Can college atheletes bet on sports in Louisiana?

As sports betting continues to grow nationwide, sports enthusiasts are gambling on their favorite sports and teams. But what are the rules when it comes to athletes, especially those still in college?

Sports betting is currently legal in 38 states including Louisiana. Both professional and college athletes have come under fire in recent years for betting, sometimes on their own teams.

On Thursday, former star LSU football player Kayshon Boutte was arrested in connection with allegations of illegal gambling. Louisiana State police accused him of using an alias to illegally bet on sports while he was underage.

Here’s what to know about athletes and sports betting laws in Louisiana.

Is it illegal for athletes to participate in sports betting?

The answer to this question depends on a few factors.

In Louisiana, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to gamble. Therefore, it’s illegal for any college athlete under the legal age to place a wager on any sports game.

Those placing bets in Louisiana must also be in a parish that has approved sports betting. Currently, Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Jackson, LaSalle, Sabine, Union, West Carroll and Winn parishes do not allow sports betting.

Sports betting operators in Louisiana are not allowed to knowingly accept a wager from athletes, coaches, referees or other officials participating in the sports event that the person is attempting to bet on.

It is also illegal in Louisiana to bet on high school sports.

Additionally, people in Louisiana who are accused of using a fake alias to place illegal sports bets can later be charged with computer fraud. For example, Boutte is accused of using someone else's name to register his betting account, which led police to book him on a count of computer fraud, a felony.

Is it against NCAA rules for college athletes to bet on sports?

Yes, anyone involved in college athletics (coaches, athletes, athletic directors) is prohibited from participating in sports betting period, whether it is related to their respective sport or not.

The NCAA also prohibits those involved in college athletics from providing information to people involved in sports betting that could influence a wager.

Last year, the NCAA revamped its rules and punishments for those found to be involved in sports betting.

College athletes who, “engage in activities to influence the outcomes of their own games or knowingly provide information to individuals involved in sports betting activities” could be permanently banned from NCAA sports. This also applies to athletes who bet on their own games or on other sports at their own schools, according to the NCAA.

If a student-athlete wagers on their own sport at another school, they could lose half a season of eligibility.