HLS 13RS-707 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 3
BY REPRESENTATIVE HUVAL
GAMING: Requests a study of the feasibility and practicality of authorizing Internet
gaming in La.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To authorize and request the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice2
and the Senate Committee on Judiciary B to meet and to function as a joint3
committee to study the feasibility and practicality of authorizing Internet gaming in4
Louisiana and to report the findings of the joint committee to the legislature prior to5
the convening of the 2014 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.6
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature from 1990 through 1992 authorized several7
forms of gaming, including gaming upon riverboats along designated waterways, gaming8
at a land-based casino, the operation of video draw poker devices, and the conducting of a9
state lottery; and10
WHEREAS, in 1997, the Louisiana Legislature authorized slot machine gaming at11
eligible live horse racing facilities; and12
WHEREAS, during the past twenty-three years, the gaming industry has contributed13
$14.3 billion to the state budget; and14
WHEREAS, revenues generated from the gaming industry make up six percent of15
state-generated revenue for 2013; and 16
WHEREAS, since its inception, the gaming industry in Louisiana has been strictly17
regulated to provide for a controlled gaming industry which is designed to promote18
economic development and protect the citizens of the state; and19
WHEREAS, in 1997, Louisiana enacted the crime of gambling by computer and20
prohibited the conducting of any game, contest, lottery, or contrivance whereby a person21 HLS 13RS-707 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 3
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risks the loss of any thing of value in order to realize a profit when accessing the Internet and1
despite the passage of this law, many websites exist where Louisiana citizens can participate2
in Internet gaming activities; and3
WHEREAS, in the seventeen years since the crime of gambling by computer was4
created, both technology and the use of the Internet have flourished, resulting in the ability5
to conduct gaming activities through the use of a computer or mobile device; and6
WHEREAS, many Internet gaming opportunities occur outside the borders of the7
United States with no safeguards regarding the integrity of the games or protection of those8
persons who wager on those games; and9
WHEREAS, Delaware passed legislation authorizing Internet gaming in June of10
2012, and both Nevada and New Jersey passed similar legislation in February of this year11
to legalize Internet gaming; and12
WHEREAS, within a nine-month period, three states have legalized Internet gaming;13
and14
WHEREAS, Louisiana has the potential to benefit economically by legalizing15
Internet gaming; and16
WHEREAS, by establishing a regulatory framework to authorize Internet gaming in17
Louisiana, the integrity of the games could be ensured and potential additional revenue18
sources could be realized.19
THEREFORE, the Legislature of Louisiana requests the House Committee on the20
Administration of Criminal Justice and the Senate Committee on Judiciary B to meet and21
to function as a joint committee to study the feasibility and practicality of authorizing22
Internet gaming in Louisiana and to report the findings of the joint committee to the23
legislature prior to the convening of the 2014 Regular Session of the Legislature of24
Louisiana.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the joint committee shall seek input from the26
office of the governor, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the office of state police27
gaming division, the gaming division of the office of the attorney general, the gaming28
industry, and any other parties deemed appropriate by the committee. 29 HLS 13RS-707 ORIGINAL
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Huval HCR No. 3
Authorizes and requests that the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice
and the Senate Committee on Judiciary B meet as a joint committee to study the feasibility
and practicality of authorizing Internet gaming in La. and to report the findings to the
legislature prior to the convening of the 2014 R.S.