A Senate approved bill that would allow a parish by parish vote on the legalization of sports betting will be heard today in the House Appropriations Committee.
Currently the bill calls for the activity at racetracks and casinos but video poker interests are hoping to expand that. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says that can’t happen…
But the Metairie Republican is optimistic and thinks Louisiana could have sports betting in the state’s racetracks, riverboat casinos, and land-based casino in New Orleans by the end of the year.
A companion bill to tax the activity proposes a 13 percent tax rate, which Martiny says is about average, and nearly equal to that of Mississippi’s. One percent would be sent to compulsive gambling funds.
And that’s not the only sports related legislation working it’s way through the chambers as House approved Fantasy sports regulation is halfway to final passage and a bill that would tax the activity will soon receive a hearing in a Senate committee.
As it stands the tax rate for fantasy sports is currently at 15 percent, which Fairness for Fantasy Sports spokesperson Ryan Berni says would be the highest in the nation.
Opponents argue it’s a lower rate than what other gaming activities in the state must pay.
The bill has seen stiff opposition from other gaming interest groups who say fantasy sports should only be accessible from within a casino, or a video poker facility. Berni that would be disregarding the will of 60 percent of voters and 47 parishes that approved the activity last fall. He says it would be a shame to see special interests tank the legislation…