Louisiana’s legislature has passed House Bill 547, authorizing fixed-odds wagering on horse racing, aiming to modernize betting by allowing online sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel to offer fixed-odds bets similar to those in stick-and-ball sports. The bill, supported by figures such as former NFL quarterback and racehorse owner Jake Delhomme, seeks to boost the state’s horse racing industry by creating a new revenue stream through a dedicated purse supplement fund, which will allocate 5% of net proceeds to prize money and breeding efforts. If signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry, Louisiana would become the fourth state to legalize fixed-odds horse race betting.

However, Churchill Downs Inc., owner of the New Orleans-based Fair Grounds track, has expressed strong opposition, warning that the bill could further harm the track’s competitiveness amid recent legal and financial challenges. Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen indicated that the legislation would divert wagering revenue away from brick-and-mortar racetracks to out-of-state operators, potentially forcing the company to surrender Fair Grounds’ racing license and gaming permits. This move threatens the future of one of the nation’s oldest racetracks and could have significant negative impacts on Louisiana’s equine industry, local economy, and community.