Legislation to give voters an opportunity in November to decide if fantasy sports gambling should be legal in their parish is one step away from final passage. A Senate committee approved River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot’s proposal.
Talbot says, "If you're in the parish that legalizes sports betting, you can log on with your phone and make a draft or decide which teams or players to play. If you're in a parish where they voted it out, you're not going to be able to log onto the site."
If the legislation is approved, the gaming control board would regulate fantasy sports gambling. Talbot says another bill would be introduced next year to determine how it will be taxed.
Talbot says, "Do we want to do a set fee or a percentage of earnings from these companies? Some states do one of each. Some states do a combination of the two."
The vote in Judiciary B committee was four to one in favor. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson, who did not explain her objection, was the lone no vote. Houma Senator Norby Chabert says he’s received a lot of calls in support.