The NFL opens on Thursday night in a televised game between Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. In Louisiana, the hope was that legal sports betting would start during the first NFL game. Now that hope seemed washed away by Hurricane Ida.
According to Wade Duty, the Louisiana Casino Association executive director, the hurricane has delayed the process of issuing licenses to sportsbook operators.
Last month, the Louisiana Gaming Control board authorized states casinos and racetracks to apply to run a sportsbook. This created a hope that sports wagering could start of football season.
Duty adds that Hurricane Ida has pushed back the approval of sports betting back by 10 business days. He affirmed that temporary licenses would finally be issued later in September.
Hurricane Ida has been classified as a Category 4 storm that reached a speed of 150 mph. It made landfall in Louisiana on 28th August, leaving a trail of destruction, including power outages in New Orleans and neighboring regions.
The hurricane forced casinos in New Orleans and South Louisiana to close, however, they have begun reopening this week.
Louisiana is one of the six states with legal sports betting but not yet operational. Gambling was approved in 55 of 64 parishes in last year’s state election.
In authorized parishes, wagering can be done through either a mobile device, person casino sportsbook betting, in bars, kiosks, and restaurants that serve alcohol.
