Louisiana Lawmakers Retract Ban on Prop and Micro Bets After Fiscal Analysis Reveals Staggering $20 Million Annual Revenue Loss

Louisiana pulls a bill to ban prop bets and microbetting after fiscal notes showed the state would lose $20 million in tax revenue annually.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 8:25 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Gambling Insider

The Collision of Social Policy and Fiscal Reality

Louisiana’s attempt to lead the nation in restricting high-frequency wagering formats has stalled due to the significant economic contributions of the very products lawmakers sought to ban. Senate Bill 354, which proposed a total prohibition on proposition (prop) bets and microbetting, was pulled from consideration this week. While the bill was fueled by concerns over the "compulsive nature" of rapid-fire wagers, a late-stage fiscal analysis revealed that the state’s budget is far more dependent on these betting verticals than previously estimated.

The Economic Scale of High-Frequency Wagering

A fiscal note issued by the Legislative Fiscal Office projected that enacting the ban would result in a loss of over $20 million annually to Louisiana’s General Fund through 2031. Furthermore, specialized state programs—including healthcare, education, and student-athlete support—would face an additional $17 million in yearly cuts. Senator Jackson-Andrews, who serves on the Senate Finance Committee, acknowledged that while the policy goal remained a priority, the immediate need to replace nearly $40 million in total annual revenue presented an insurmountable legislative hurdle for the current session.

Market Penetration of Props and Microbets

Data provided by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board underscores why the fiscal impact of a ban would be so severe. Prop bets and microbetting currently account for approximately 40% of all mobile sports wagers in the state and 13% of retail betting. These products have become the primary drivers of growth for licensed operators, fueling the SPORT Fund which provides more than $9 million a year for collegiate and youth athletic programs. The withdrawal of the bill effectively preserves these revenue streams at the expense of immediate regulatory tightening.