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Louisiana lawmakers are considering a piece of legislation that imposes a significant penalty for operating electronic sweepstakes devices and bribing athletes.
Rep. Bryan Fontenot has introduced House Bill 53, a piece of legislation that would add certain gambling crimes to the definition of “racketeering activity,” including gambling via electronic sweepstake device, gambling by computer and gambling in public. It would also make “unlawful wager; prohibited player” and bribing athletes and other sports participants a racketeering offense, amid the betting scandals that continue to emerge in U.S. coll
ege and pro sports.
The measure has been referred to the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice for further consideration.
Louisiana law imposes severe penalties for racketeering activity, with violators subject to fines of up to $1 million and prison sentences that can reach up to 50 years. Any person who violates the law is also subject to up to 50 years of hard labor.
The state’s law also calls for a mandatory five-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole, a suspended sentence or probation if the racketeering activity exceeds $10,000.
The regulator sent the orders after Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill that proposed a formal ban on offshore and sweepstakes casino sites. Landry found the bill to be unnecessary as the LGCB already had the authority to order sweepstakes casino sites to exit Louisiana.
Louisiana lawmakers are considering a piece of legislation that imposes a significant penalty for operating electronic sweepstakes devices and bribing athletes.
Rep. Bryan Fontenot has introduced House Bill 53, a piece of legislation that would add certain gambling crimes to the definition of “racketeering activity,” including gambling via electronic sweepstake device, gambling by computer and gambling in public. It would also make “unlawful wager; prohibited player” and bribing athletes and other sports participants a racketeering offense, amid the betting scandals that continue to emerge in U.S. coll
ege and pro sports.
The measure has been referred to the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice for further consideration.
Potential penalties for racketeering activity in Louisiana
Fontenot’s measure defines racketeering activity as “committing, attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or soliciting, coercing or intimidating another person to commit any crime that is punishable under the following provisions of Title 14 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, or the Louisiana Securities Law.”Louisiana law imposes severe penalties for racketeering activity, with violators subject to fines of up to $1 million and prison sentences that can reach up to 50 years. Any person who violates the law is also subject to up to 50 years of hard labor.
The state’s law also calls for a mandatory five-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole, a suspended sentence or probation if the racketeering activity exceeds $10,000.
Louisiana regulator takes action against sweeps
The piece of legislation would impose a harsh penalty for sweepstakes-style gaming after the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) issued a series of cease-and-desist orders to online sweepstakes casino operators accepting customers in the state.The regulator sent the orders after Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill that proposed a formal ban on offshore and sweepstakes casino sites. Landry found the bill to be unnecessary as the LGCB already had the authority to order sweepstakes casino sites to exit Louisiana.