Louisiana Bill to Fight Athlete Harassment Sent to Governor

It appears that athletes in Louisiana will soon feel a bit safer.

The state House unanimously passed SB 325, which proposes to ban bettors if they are found to have harassed athletes. It would add language to current laws to expand the Louisiana Control Board’s excluded persons list for gambling in the state.

"Those persons who, before, during, or after a sporting event, threaten violence or harm against any person who is involved in the sporting event, where the threat is related to sports gaming,” SB 325 reads. “Those persons whose presence in a retail sports book or whose participation in the play or operation of mobile wagering in this state is determined by the board to pose a threat to the interests of the state, to achieving the intents and purposes of this Title, or to the strict and effective regulation of sports wagering."

Athlete harassment has been an ongoing issue, especially for the NCAA. Louisiana is home to multiple pro and college sports programs that bettors can wager on, raising the risk of harassment for the athletes involved.

Earlier this year, BetMGM announced new rules banning bettors who harass athletes, showing that the industry is as concerned as states about the issue.

The bill will now head to Governor Jeff Landry’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law.

How Effective Can a Ban Be?

Adding serious consequences for bettors who harass athletes is something several states have been considering. While the state can still punish the guilty party, lawmakers hope that a ban on sports betting will make angry bettors think twice.

The proposal is solid, but there is reason to wonder how effective it will be. Identifying anonymous harassers on social media is difficult, as can be blocked phone calls. Even if the LCB and authorities improve on that, offenders may find other ways to avoid being identified.

Another issue is the presence of sports prediction markets. A bettor banned from betting on sports in Louisiana could still wager using these platforms. Prediction markets remain under the CFTC's authority and protection and qualify as “swaps.” Since the industry isn’t legally considered gambling, any state wagering bans would not apply.