Louisiana lawmakers have paused efforts to ban prop and microbets after a fiscal review revealed substantial potential revenue losses. The move follows growing concerns about the economic impact of restricting these popular wagers while balancing public health priorities.
Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews, who introduced Senate Bill 354 in February 2026, initially sought to prohibit prop bets—wagers on specific game events not tied to overall outcomes—and microbets, which focus on individual plays, such as predicting the next pitch in a baseball game. She cited conversations with advocacy groups and personal observations of gambling’s impact within families as motivation for the measure.
However, a fiscal analysis conducted by the Louisiana Legislative Fiscal Office revealed that removing these bets could cut nearly $40 million from state funds annually. The general fund alone could lose $21 million, while other state-supported programs would see a combined reduction of $17 million. Jackson-Andrews described the findings as “an extremely serious issue that I need to revisit without this type of fiscal note on it,” acknowledging the significant effect on the budget.
Prop Bets’ Role in Louisiana Gaming
Prop and microbets represent a significant portion of Louisiana’s sports betting market. Data from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board shows they account for roughly 40% of mobile wagers and 13% of retail sports betting activity. In 2025, the state saw approximately $4 billion in mobile bets, generating $492 million in revenue and $90 million in taxes. If 40% of the handle came from prop and microbets, these wagers represented roughly $1.6 billion of the total.
While the proposed ban was intended to reduce compulsive gambling, experts suggest consumer demand for other betting forms would likely absorb activity lost from these markets. “Consumer activity is expected to shift to other available forms of gaming rather than be substantially reduced,” the analysis said, noting that the projected revenue losses could be partially mitigated.
Balancing Public Safety and Revenue
Lawmakers emphasized the challenge of balancing fiscal responsibility with social concerns. Judiciary B Chair Mike Reese highlighted the importance of considering mental health and youth protection while also recognizing the risk of illegal markets filling any gaps left by restricted betting.
Jackson-Andrews acknowledged the complexity, noting that enforcing a ban would require replacing millions of dollars in lost funding. “I try to bring very responsible legislation, and I believe this piece is a responsible piece of legislation, but also, serving on finance, understanding that if this bill moves forward, we will have to find that [millions of lost funding] for the state general fund,” she said.
Future Prospects
Although SB354 has been withdrawn, Jackson-Andrews plans to revisit the issue in a future legislative session, likely with measures focused on player protection and restrictions rather than a complete prohibition. Nationwide, several states, including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois, are also examining limits on prop bets and microbetting to reduce gambling-related risks, particularly for young or vulnerable populations.
The Louisiana decision underscores the growing tension between regulating high-frequency betting and maintaining revenue streams that fund critical state services such as education, healthcare, and youth programs. Any future legislation will need to carefully balance these competing priorities.
Source:
“Proposal to ban prop bets on sports dies in Louisiana. It would have cost the state millions.“, shreveportbossieradvocate.com, April 1, 2026
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