Louisiana bill to ban abusive bettors from sportsbooks heads to Gov. Jeff Landry

Louisiana is close to enacting a law that would allow state gaming regulators to bar certain residents from retail sportsbooks and mobile wagering if they are found to have threatened athletes for gambling-related reasons.

Senate Bill 325 is awaiting action from Gov. Jeff Landry after Louisiana House Speaker Rep. Phillip DeVillier signed the measure on Monday, completing the final administrative step before it reaches the governor. Landry may sign or veto the bill. If he takes no action, the measure will become law.

The bill, which received unanimous support in both chambers, would amend state law to create a new category of people who can be excluded by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

The measure applies to individuals “who are to be excluded from or ejected from a retail sportsbook and from participating in the play or operation of mobile wagering” by the LGCB.

The proposed law targets people who “threaten violence or harm” against an athlete in connection with gambling. The threats covered by the bill may occur “before, during, or after a sporting event.” The LGCB would also be able to exclude people who “pose a threat to the interest of the state.”

Those placed on the exclusion list must receive notice from the LGCB and are entitled to a hearing to review their placement. If an excluded person attempts to enter the premises of a gambling establishment without permission from the LGCB, the individual could face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $500.

Operators could also face penalties under the bill. A sportsbook or gambling operator found to have engaged in “a pattern of willful failure to exclude” people on the exclusion list may face license or permit suspension or revocation.

The measure comes as gambling-related harassment of athletes has drawn increased attention across U.S. sports. According to data provided by the NCAA and Signify, last year’s March Madness tournament generated about 54,096 suspicious social media posts, of which 3,161 were determined to be abusive. Signify opened 103 investigations into the messages, with 10 referred to law enforcement.

Sports betting operators have also taken action in recent cases. In 2025, FanDuel banned an account holder after he heckled Olympic gold medalist and track athlete Gabby Thomas. Earlier this year, BetMGM introduced a policy to suspend accounts that send abusive messages or language toward athletes.