Yes, ESPN BET is currently legal in Louisiana, following the successful launch of ESPN BET Louisiana on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. ESPN BET Louisiana uses Penn Entertainment's Louisiana sports betting license to legally operate in the state. Penn Entertainment previously used that license for Barstool Sportsbook Louisiana.
With ESPN BET Louisiana now live, sign up with the ESPN BET Louisiana promo code ROTO today.
ESPN BET Louisiana Timeline
Here's a timeline of events leading to ESPN BET Louisiana joining the legal online sports betting industry in Louisiana as well as other important dates for the Louisiana sports betting market:
- November 14, 2023: ESPN BET Louisiana launches its online sportsbook. The ESPN BET mobile app is released in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store as well. New users can use the ESPN BET Louisiana promo code ROTO to claim a launch day welcome offer.
- November 2, 2023: ESPN BET announces it will launch on November 14, 2023, going live in 17 states where Penn Entertainment holds a sports betting license, including Louisiana.
- October 2023: Images of the ESPN BET logo are released, featuring the ESPN brand in all marketing materials.
- August 8, 2023: Penn Entertainment agrees to a 10-year, $2 billion deal with ESPN, making Penn Entertainment the exclusive sports betting partner of ESPN. The announcement came after Penn Entertainment divested its interest from Barstool Sports, beginning the transition from Barstool Sportsbook to ESPN BET skins for a fall 2023 release of the ESPN BET mobile app and site, along with the ESPN BET promo code welcome offer for new users.
- August 2022: Penn National Gaming rebrands as Penn Entertainment to better portray its role as the leader of integrated entertainment, sports content, and casino gaming in North America.
- January 28, 2022: Legal online sports betting launches in Louisiana, including the Barstool Sportsbook Louisiana mobile app and site under the Penn Entertainment sports betting license. Other online sportsbooks such as Caesars Sportsbook Louisiana, BetMGM Louisiana, FanDuel Louisiana, DraftKings Louisiana, and BetRivers Sportsbook Louisiana begin taking bets in Louisiana.
- Early January 2022: Sports betting licenses for Louisiana online sportsbooks were granted by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
- October 2021: Retail sports betting launches in Louisiana, with the first wager placed at Paragon Casino Resort.
- June 22, 2021: Louisiana sports betting is officially legalized when Gov. John Bel Edwards signs SB 142 and SB 247 into law. This legalized retail sports betting as well as mobile sports betting sites and apps in Louisiana. Under the terms of the bills, as many as 40 online sports betting sites will be allowed to operate in Louisiana.
- November 2020: Legal sports betting is approved following 55 of Louisiana's 64 parishes voting yes on an issue proposed on the state's voting ballot. The nine parishes that did not vote for legal sports betting are Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Jackson, La Salle, Sabine, Union, West Carroll, and Winn.
- 2018: The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing states to pass individual laws for legal sports betting.
Online sports betting in Louisiana is now available in 55 of the state's 64 parishes for anyone who is at least 21 years old. The nine parishes that have not legalized online sports betting are Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Jackson, La Salle, Sabine, Union, West Carroll, and Winn.
Outside of Louisiana, the ESPN BET promo code ROTO is available to claim in other ESPN BET legal states such as Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.