Following the state’s introduction of a ban on all Louisiana educational institutions promoting sports betting, LSU has now moved to end it partnership agreement with Caesars Sportsbook.
Senate Bill 191 was passed by the House of Representatives last week and has since been sent to the desk of Governor John Bel Edwards to be signed into law. The legislation places an outright ban on all colleges or universities from agreeing marketing or advertising partnerships with sports betting operators.
The LSU Caesars partnership was signed in September of 2021 ahead of the official launch of sports betting in Louisiana which came just two months later in November 2021. The deal allowed Caesars naming rights for a sportsbook lounge and extensive signage at Tigers Stadium.
However, the deal came under scrutiny following a New York Times article that revealed that marketing promotions were sent out to students at LSU who were under the legal age for sports betting.
Earlier in March of 2023, the American Gaming Association announced that it was adopting new “Responsible Marketing Code” regulations that would prohibit “college partnerships that market or advertise sports wagering activity.”
Following this announcement Sen. Gary Smith proposed Senate Bill 191 to implement clear regulation of partnerships in Louisiana.
“When we saw that, it really kind of dawned on us that we’re glad the industry is taking their own approach to this, but there’s probably something we should have done in the first place here in Louisiana,” he said. “Just to keep that separation between some of our youngest individuals, who are just hitting that legal age, and the industry.”
The connection between sports betting in general and college sports came under further scrutiny in May of this year when Ohio’s gaming regulator prohibited bets on Alabama college baseball following suspicious betting activity during a Crimson Tide vs. LSU game.
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An experienced iGaming commentator and analyst based in New York City - Jenny reports on regulation and gambling industry news and events.