IBERIA PARISH — Sports betting became legal in Louisiana just three years ago, with retail sportsbooks opening in Oct. 2021 and mobile betting launching in Jan. 2022.

Since then, the numbers have skyrocketed. In 2022, residents wagered nearly $1.8 billion. By 2024, that number climbed to more than $3 billion — a 37 percent increase.

While the state is making money from the industry, not all of it goes back into the community. A quarter of the tax revenue from sports betting is directed to early childhood education, but only three percent is earmarked for problem gambling programs.

One bettor admitted just how consuming sports betting can be.

“I know people that are like real addicted. They have this whole spreadsheet, these notes they go over and stuff like that. I know a few people th

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