The New Orleans City Council today is set to take up a resolution that supports legalized sports betting in Louisiana. The resolution would back an effort to make sure the proceeds go to early childhood education.
State Senator Danny Martiny has been urging lawmakers to take up a sports gambling bill even before the Supreme Court overturned a federal law against it. He says all you have to do is turn on your radio and you'll hear the opportunity leaving the state.
"There's an advertisement from the Beau Rivage or the Imperial Palace or the Golden Nugget, saying 'Come on over to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, because we have sports betting.'" said Martiny.
He says every time a Louisiana resident goes somewhere else to bet a game, the state ends up losing
"We've got bookies out there, you can go online and bet offshore, so it's here," he said.
Martiny says it could mean tens of millions of dollars for the state, money supporters hope can be used for education programs for 0-3 year olds.