Louisiana advances online betting harassment bill to Governor
Louisiana lawmakers have unanimously approved Senate Bill 325 (SB 325), legislation that punishes sports bettors who harass or threaten athletes, coaches, referees, and other sports personnel.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Mike Reese, passed unanimously in both chambers, 38-0 in the Senate and 101-0 in the House. The bill would place individuals who harass or threaten athletes, coaches, or officials due to gambling outcomes on a statewide exclusion list, blocking them from legal sports betting at mobile apps, retail sportsbooks, and casinos. It now awaits Governor Jeff Landry’s approval and is widely expected to become law.
The bill was introduced by lawmakers in response to mounting worries about threats and mistreatment of athletes and officials after gambling losses. The growing impact of harassment associated with sports betting has already been warned about by the NCAA and other sports organisations.
What SB 325 proposes
Louisiana’s SB 325, passed unanimously in 2026, gives regulators authority to ban sports bettors who harass or threaten athletes, coaches, referees, or others tied to games. As a result of the law’s expansion of the state’s list of banned persons, offenders may no longer be able to access statewide casino betting, retail sportsbooks, and mobile apps. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board is in charge of oversight and will oversee enforcement.
Importantly, this bill also establishes an exclusion list for bettors who harass or threaten athletes, coaches, referees, or others involved in sporting events. The law would be enforced by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which would deny offenders access to casino betting, retail sportsbooks, and mobile apps throughout the state. A redemption pathway is also included in the law, which enables those who have been prohibited to ask for a hearing within 30 days in order to appeal and possibly get their betting rights back. In order to deter abusive behaviour while also providing an opportunity for rehabilitation, this system strikes a balance between athlete safety and due process.
Legislators’ intention to safeguard athletes and officials while guaranteeing bettors due process is reflected in this proposal. Because the proposal concentrates on athlete safety rather than limiting sports betting itself, lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed it. The measure attempts to restrict bad behaviour without damaging the wagering industry, which currently generates billions of bets and significant revenue for the state.
NCAA concerns
The NCAA has expressed worries about how sports betting, particularly player prop wagers, puts more pressure on collegiate athletes by explicitly linking gambling outcomes to individual accomplishments. Bettors who lose money may harass you if you miss a shot, get into foul trouble, or perform poorly.
NCAA President Charlie Baker has been vocal about the need for more stringent regulations, calling on states to look more closely at player prop markets and take further action to protect athletes from abuse. That problem is specifically addressed in Louisiana’s SB 325. The bill makes harassment unlawful regardless of the type of wager that prompted it, specifically targeting harassment rather than sports betting in general. Protecting athletes without closing down a sector that the state has openly embraced is the straightforward objective.
Spotlight on athlete harassment
Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star Angel Reese’s experience following LSU’s 2023 national championship is a stark reminder of how quickly athlete harassment can spiral out of control. Despite being on the winning side, she received death threats and a torrent of online hate, which had nothing to do with a subpar performance or a bad game.
The LSU-Iowa game attracted more attention, and social media sparked discussion and criticism that soon became toxic. Her predicament made Louisiana politicians realise how urgent it is to pass SB 325, which aims to safeguard athletes from risks associated with sports culture and gambling and hold abusive bettors accountable.
Louisiana’s sports betting industry
Online wagers crossed $3 billion in 2025, and retail sportsbooks added close to $29.8 million on top of that. Mobile apps have been the real engine behind this growth, putting betting within easy reach for just about anyone with a smartphone. Lawmakers are not ignoring what that kind of scale brings with it though. While they recognise how economically significant the industry has become, they are also turning their attention to the darker side of it, particularly the harassment that has become increasingly tied to gambling outcomes.
By granting regulators the power to prohibit abusive bettors from placing bets throughout the state, SB 325 reflects that balance. Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the bill, which has unanimous legislative support and a clear focus on athlete safety, strengthening protections without posing a threat to the wider betting industry.
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