Louisiana lawmakers have sent Senate Bill 325 to Gov. Jeff Landry. The bill would allow abusive sports bettors to be banned from sportsbooks if they harass or threaten athletes, coaches or officials. The measure has passed both chambers with unanimous support. It now needs the governor’s signature before becoming law.
Exclusion list would cover harassment
Senate Bill 325 would expand the reasons a person can be placed on Louisiana’s sports betting exclusion list. The change targets harassment or threats connected to sports wagering.
That means a bettor who abuses an athlete after a lost bet could lose access to licensed sportsbooks in the state. The ban would apply through the Louisiana Gaming Control Board’s exclusion process. The proposal covers conduct aimed at athletes, coaches and sports officials. It is designed to address betting-related abuse that has increased with mobile sports wagering.
Lawmakers backed the bill quickly
The bill was sponsored by Republican Sen. Mike Reese. It passed the Louisiana Senate before moving through the House without opposition.
The measure reached Landry’s desk on May 21. If signed, it would take effect on Aug. 1, giving regulators time to prepare the exclusion process. The bill does not change which sports bets are legal in Louisiana. It focuses on bettor conduct and gives the state another tool to respond when wagering-related abuse crosses the line.
Athlete harassment remains a national issue
Sports betting-related harassment has become a larger issue across the United States. College athletes have been a major focus because they often face direct abuse on social media after games.
The NCAA has pushed states to take stronger action against bettors who threaten or harass athletes. It has also supported limits on some college player prop bets, arguing that those markets can increase pressure on individual players.
West Virginia already allows regulators to ban bettors who harass athletes, coaches or officials. New York lawmakers have also reviewed similar restrictions tied to athlete harassment.
Exclusion rules affect sportsbook access
Louisiana’s sports betting exclusion system is used to block certain people from legal wagering. If SB325 becomes law, harassment-linked exclusions would become part of that framework. Licensed sportsbooks would need to follow the updated exclusion rules once a bettor is placed on the list. That would make the ban apply across regulated betting platforms in approved Louisiana parishes.
