Governor Jeff Landry has vetoed the bill that would have kicked online sweepstakes casinos out of the state. SB 181 had a clear run to the Landry, with its final votes getting a 99-0 by the House and 38-0 by the Senate. However, it’s now dead in the water, but not due to any malicious means.
Opponents criticized SB 181 for being too broad a stroke in dealing with the sweepstakes casino problem. The language used would have effectively banned a lot of gambling, with several revisions required in the voting process. In his letter, he details that the bill itself is redundant, due to the strict no online gambling laws already enforced in the state.
What gambling is legal in Louisiana?
There isn’t much legal in Louisiana in terms of online gambling. The state bans casino-style games, online poker, bingo, and most online betting aside from sports wagering, which was legalized in 2021. In-person casino gambling is legal, with multiple casinos in the state.
Sweepstakes bill not needed, according to gov
Landry gives credit to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) for doing its job, claiming that the bill has been vetoed due to the LGCB’s current work:
“The Board is already taking active steps to combat illegal gambling in Louisiana, especially against illegal offshore wagering and illegal online sweepstakes companies operating in Louisiana…
“As such, this bill is a solution in search of a problem that is already being solved by our current system, and some of the language in this bill is overly broad and could be interpreted in an adverse manner, which may harm or impede our current enforcement actions taken against these bad actors.”
There is still a chance that the bill could be reconsidered if the House and Senate can find a two-thirds majority.
Sweepstakes casinos have been the current target of many states, thanks to their lack of protections and regulations. Gambling addicts can purchase as many of the tokens used on these sites, often dubbed “Gold” and “Sweep” coins, with the latter used for money games. New York also found that it had begun to target minors, and most states see no tax benefits from the offshore operators that have taken over the US gambling industry.
