In late June of 2021, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards officially signed into law the legalization of sports betting across the state. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has set its sights on an official launch of sports betting by the end of the year, preferably during the football season.

The law allows for 20 sportsbook licenses -- one for each of the 15 riverboat casinos, one for each of the four horse racing tracks, and one for the land-based casino located in Louisiana. Each license also allows for two mobile licenses and one for the Louisiana Lottery Corporation.

While sports betting is now legal and has been for several months, sportsbook operators must first obtain a license before they begin accepting wagers from Louisiana residents -- which could take several months. The good news is you can turn to daily fantasy sports in the meantime.

So, can DraftKings operate in Louisiana?

On July 15, 2021, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board announced that they have finally handed out their first daily fantasy sports license. The lucky recipient was none other than DraftKings, meaning Louisiana residents can now, legally, enjoy daily fantasy sports on the DratKings app.

With the addition of Louisiana, DraftKings is now available in 44 states throughout the United States. They offer a wide range of sports to choose from, including the NBA, NFL, PGA, NHL, MLB, MMA, Soccer, NASCAR, Tennis, NCAAF, NCAAM, WNBA, eSports, Aussie, and more.

“As DraftKings continues our nationwide expansion, we welcome Louisiana to the DraftKings family, an area rich with culture, heritage, and die-hard fanbases in both professional and college sports,” said Matt Kalish, co-founder, and president of DraftKings North America. “The Bayou will now have access to our world-leading Daily Fantasy Sports product as we ramp up toward the kickoff of football season.”

This is good news for Louisiana residents, giving them something to do as they await the launch of 20 retail sportsbooks and more than 40 mobile sportsbooks. Home of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, Louisiana residents should be excited for what’s to come!

Is DraftKings Available In All LA Parishes?

As many residents already know, Louisiana is the only state in the United States that features parishes -- opposed to counties. Each parish had an opportunity to vote on whether DraftKings would be available in that parish. While 47 of the parishes voted in favor of DK, 17 of them didn’t.

The 17 parishes that voted not to have DraftKings available are Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Morehouse, Richland, Sabine, Union, Vernon, West Carroll, and Winn. All other parishes approved them.

If you live in one of the 17 parishes where DraftKings won’t be live, don’t panic. Enjoying what they have to offer could be as simple as driving to a parish that did approve it. As long as you’re not physically in a parish that didn’t approve it, you’re 100% allowed to enjoy their DFS services.

How Does DK Differ From Other DFS Apps?

With so many different daily fantasy sports operators out there, being unique and offering a service that can’t be duplicated elsewhere is extremely important when attracting new customers. Of course, that’s one thing DraftKings has done exceptionally well in recent years.

Here are just some of the things that make DraftKings a worthy experience for any Louisiana resident:

• Fair Play Commitment Initiative - this is an initiative by DraftKings to ensure a fair and level playing field by keeping experienced players away from beginner contests.
• DraftKings Leagues - if you’re looking to create a fully customizable and private league for just you, your friends, and your family, DraftKings Leagues is what you need.
• Showdown Contests - using a salary cap format, users must select a lineup of players from a single game, match, or round in hopes of securing the most fantasy points.
• Classic Contests - using a salary cap format, users select a lineup of players listed in the player pool across multiple games in hopes of securing the most fantasy points.
• Charity-Driven Contests - some of the proceeds from these contests will benefit organizations making a difference, such as planting trees with the Arbor Day Foundation.
• S.E.R.V.E.S. Program - a program dedicated to innovative and responsible gaming. It stands for Service, Equity, Responsibility, Vitality, Entrepreneurship, and Sports.

Those are just some of the ways DraftKings ensures a unique, rewarding, and innovative experience for all new and existing customers. It’s clear that daily fantasy sports mean a lot to them and it’s something they mirror in their sports betting operations, which will launch soon.

Will There Be a Welcome Bonus?

Anytime a sportsbook operator announces their official launch in a new state, one of the first things new customers look for is that sweet, enticing, and generous welcome bonus. It not only gives them an incentive to sign up, but it gives them an opportunity to win some free money!

When DraftKings announced their launch in Louisiana, they also announced that new customers would receive free credit to enter a $3 contest of their choosing. In order to redeem this bonus, all you need to do is sign up for a new account and make your first deposit (minimum of $5).

Are There Any Other DFS Operators in Louisiana?

In the coming weeks and months, expect Louisiana to continue approving licenses to select daily fantasy sports and sportsbook operators. DraftKings is just the first of many, so keep your eyes peeled and ears open for new announcements by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

For example, you can expect other big names in the industry to receive licenses soon -- including FanDuel and Monkey Knife Fight, who have been in the early running for licenses in other states across the United States. Soon, Louisiana residents will have plenty of options.

For now, go create an account at DraftKings, take advantage of the welcome bonus to new customers, and give yourself an opportunity to win some extra money while you await the official launch of sports betting in the state of Louisiana.