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Louisiana is close to giving gaming regulators a new tool against sports betting harassment tied to athletes, coaches, and others involved in games.
Good to Know
Louisiana bettors who threaten athletes over wagers may soon face more than an account closure.
Senate Bill 325 would let the Louisiana Gaming Control Board exclude people from retail sportsbooks and mobile sports betting if they threaten violence or harm tied to sports gaming. The bill covers threats made before, during, or after a sporting event.
The measure already cleared the Legislature and reached the final stage after House Speaker Rep. Phillip DeVillier signed it on Monday. Gov. Jeff Landry can sign or veto it. Without action from him, the bill becomes law.
SB 325 also gives the LGCB power to act against people who “pose a threat to the interest of the state.” Anyone placed on the exclusion list must receive notice and can request a hearing.
Penalties can reach beyond the bettor. A person who enters a gambling venue without LGCB permission after exclusion could face up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $500. Sportsbooks and gambling operators could also risk license or permit suspension or revocation if regulators find a “pattern of willful failure to exclude” banned people.
The timing fits a wider U.S. concern over gambling abuse aimed at athletes. NCAA and Signify data found about 54,096 suspicious social media posts during March Madness last year. Of those, 3,161 were abusive, 103 led to investigations, and 10 went to law enforcement.
Operators have started acting too. FanDuel banned one account holder in 2025 after he heckled Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas. BetMGM also added a policy earlier in 2026 to suspend accounts that send abusive messages or language toward athletes.
For Louisiana, SB 325 would turn that same idea into a state gaming rule. Instead of leaving every case to operators, the LGCB would get direct authority to keep abusive bettors away from sportsbooks and betting apps.