Louisiana Sends Online Betting Harassment Bill to Governor's Desk
David Genge Published 25/05/2026
Harassing an athlete over online sports betting could wind up costing sports bettors in Louisiana. A Bill that would punish bettors who harass athletes by being banned from betting on sports in the state has advanced to the desk of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. The bill received unanimous support from both the state House and the state Senate.
The bill would require the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) to make a change that would alter what types of scenarios could result in someone being placed on the excluded list for gambling in the state. Landry has already signed one gambling bill into law, that is adding several new gambling-related offenses to the Louisiana racketeering law.
Louisiana legislature gives the anti-harassment bill unanimous support
Senate Bill 325 (SB 325) simply reads that if passed into law, it excludes certain persons from participating in sports wagering. In actuality, the proposed purpose of the bill is to permit the LGCB to ban from the state's sports betting platforms anyone who commits harassment or threatens violence toward athletes connected to sports betting. Harassment or threats toward coaches and referees would also result in a ban.
The sponsor of the bill is Republican Senator Mike Reese. The bill received unanimous backing from both chambers of the state legislature. The state House advanced the bill last week by a 101-1 vote. SB 325 had already passed through the state Senate via a 41-0 vote.
The bill landed on Gov. Landry's desk on May 21. If he signs the bill into law, it would go into effect on August 1.
“Athletes across college and professional sports are increasingly facing harassment and threats from individuals with betting interests, especially as legal sports wagering expands nationwide,” Reese told the website NOLA.com.
Athlete harassment is becoming a hot-button topic in sports betting
If SB 325 becomes law, Louisiana would join West Virginia in placing restrictions on gamblers who go after athletes over something to do with a sports betting outcome. In 2024, West Virginia lawmakers passed a law giving the West Virginia Lottery Commission legal power to ban any bettors who were found to be harassing athletes, coaches, or game officials. Beyond banning them from sports betting sites, other options at the disposal of state regulators include pursuing misdemeanor or felony charges, including assault or battery.
Ohio didn't go that far. However, the legislature in the Buckeye State did ban all college player prop betting. New York lawmakers are considering a similar bill that would place a prohibition on betting for any bettor who is convicted of crimes relating to harassment of an athlete, coach, or official. With this bill, one of the requirements is that the complainant on the original charge against the sports bettor must be an athlete, coach, or official who was participating in a sporting event when the harassment occurred.
The NCAA is lobbying state betting regulators across the USA to put into place bans on prop betting in college sports, and to institute punishment for those bettors convicted of harassing or threatening participants in college sports.
Landry has already given his approval to one change in the state gambling laws
Last week, the Louisiana Governor signed into law a bill that expanded the state's racketeering laws in relation to certain gambling offenses. Among the specific measures in the bill, HB 53, that impact sports betting are items dealing with computer-assisted betting, unlawful wagers placed by prohibited players, and bribery that involves sports participants.
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