Legislation is heading to the governor’s desk that will ask voters on November 3rd if sports betting should be legalized in their parish. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says if a parish approves the referendum, then lawmakers will vote next year on the regulation and taxation of sports wagering, which will be controversial.
“Sports wagering is very difficult, so we allow our constituents to tell us which way they think we should go,” said Henry.
An effort to legalize sports betting failed in the legislature last year. Henry says by putting the issue before the voters, lawmakers can then decide how they should vote when the sports betting and taxation bills come before them in 2021.
“Every Senator and every Rep will know exactly what their district thinks about sports wagering and then at that point we will be able to figure out if we have the support to pass the tax,” said Henry.
Supporters say sports betting is already happening and if it was legal than the state can tax the activity to generate revenue. Opponents say legal sports betting will produce more problem gamblers, which ends up costing taxpayers.
Henry says the ballot question will ask voters if sports wagering activities and operations should be permitted in your parish. He says lawmakers will determine next year where sports bets can be taken.
“Before we go through all of that, let’s just see if people in Louisiana actually want it and if they want it, then we can take the next step,” said Henry.
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