Louisiana generated $791.8 million in tax revenue for the state gambling industry with mobile sports wagering accounting for over $50 million.

The Louisiana casino industry was nearly brought to it’s knees when a bill was introduced in the recent special legislative session to increase taxes on online sports betting from 15% to 51%. The proposal never made it out of committee.

“When you increase a business’s tax by 340% overnight, the business must respond to that,” said Wade Duty, executive director of the Louisiana Gambling Association. “You cannot expect a business to absorb a 340% tax increase and say business as usual.”

“Gambling is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Benfield said. “The gambling industry is well known for undeliverable promises in a system which is stacked against the individual gambler.”