Louisiana's Gambling Boom and Point Shaving Scandal

A Surge in Wagers and a Dark Side

Louisiana has witnessed a huge rise in sports betting, with over $440 million in wagers in 2025. However, this growth has come with a dark side: a point-shaving scandal involving college basketball players.

Players from Tulane University, Nicholls State, and the University of New Orleans were indicted for trying to fix eight games between 2024 and 2025.
Two more players from Northwestern State were implicated but not named.

The Role of Legalization

The scandal has raised questions about whether Louisiana's legalization of sports betting played a role.

Sen. Beth Mizell, a Republican from Franklinton, believes the state's gambling culture is part of the problem.
She points to widespread advertising and promotions, even on college campuses, as contributing factors.

The Scheme and Its Reach

Interestingly, most of the bets involving Louisiana teams were not placed in Louisiana.

The scheme was run by people based in Philadelphia and Mississippi.
It involved college athletes from at least three other states where sports gambling is illegal: Alabama, Georgia, and Texas.

The Indictment and Blakeney's Role

The 70-page indictment filed in January 2024 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania offers some clues as to why so many Louisiana players were involved.

Former LSU basketball star Antonio Blakeney, who is accused of helping rig games in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2023, is said to have used his influence to recruit other players in Louisiana.
Blakeney faces one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and has not yet entered a plea.

Arguments For and Against Legalization

Some who supported the legalization of sports betting in Louisiana argue that the law itself is not to blame.

Ronnie Johns, a former state senator and chair of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, noted that Louisiana was an early state to ban prop bets on college sports, which are particularly susceptible to abuse.
Danny Martiny, a former Louisiana Senate Majority Leader, agreed, saying the point shaving was caused by people trying to take advantage of the system.

The Culture of Gambling

Despite these arguments, others believe the culture around sports betting in Louisiana has gone too far.

Mizell said there's a notion that gambling is not just acceptable but also safe. This sentiment is concerning, especially given the financial lure it presents to young athletes.

The Referendum and Financial Rewards

When sports gambling was put to a referendum in 2020, it had broad appeal, with voters in 55 of the state's 64 parishes backing legalization.

The Legislature adopted the changes into law in 2021, allowing the state to tax sportsbooks a portion of their proceeds.
The industry took off quickly, with Caesars Entertainment even striking a deal with LSU to become their official sportsbook and advertise on campus. However, this deal ended after controversy.
In the 2025 fiscal year, sportsbooks collected over $443 million in net proceeds from more than $3.7 billion in wagers.
More than $67 million of these proceeds were paid to the state in taxes.
A new law increased the tax rate from 15% to over 21%, though some states tax online sports gambling at much higher rates.

The Consequences and Future Steps

Rep. Neil Riser, a Columbia Republican, pointed to the point-shaving scandal as an example of the consequences of gambling.
He said the lure of easy money is particularly enticing for young athletes.
Riser's legislation, signed into law in June 2024, also aimed to steer some of the state's gambling revenues back to university athletic departments.
A quarter of the tax money from online sports betting is now allocated to the state's 11 public universities with Division I sports programs, providing much-needed funding for scholarships, facility upgrades, and medical coverage.

Historical Context

Johns, the former gaming board chair, noted that point shaving in college basketball is not a new problem.
Scandals date back to the 1950s, including a notable one at Tulane in the mid-80s.
He emphasized the importance of the NCAA and university athletic departments educating players about the dangers of sports gambling.
Martiny added that regardless of the laws, some people will always try to take advantage of the system.