HLS 13RS-611 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT STUDY REQUEST NO. 1
BY REPRESENTATIVE HUVAL
GAMING: Requests a study of the feasibility and practicality of authorizing Internet
gaming in La.
A CONCURRENT STUDY REQUEST1
To the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice and the Senate2
Committee on Judiciary B to meet and to function as a joint committee to study the3
feasibility and practicality of authorizing Internet gaming in Louisiana and to report4
the findings of the joint committee to the legislature prior to the convening of the5
2014 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.6
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature from 1990 through 1992 authorized7
several forms of gaming, including gaming upon riverboats along designated8
waterways, gaming at a land-based casino, the operation of video draw poker9
devices, and the conducting of a state lottery; and10
WHEREAS, in 1997 the Louisiana Legislature authorized slot machine11
gaming at eligible live horse racing facilities; and12
WHEREAS, during the past twenty-three years, the gaming industry has13
contributed $14.3 billion to the state budget; and14
WHEREAS, revenues generated from the gaming industry make up six15
percent of state generated revenue for 2013; and 16
WHEREAS, since its inception, the gaming industry in Louisiana has been17
strictly regulated to provide for a controlled gaming industry which is designed to18
promote economic development and protect the citizens of the state; and19
WHEREAS, in 1997 Louisiana enacted the crime of gambling by computer20
and prohibited the conducting of any game, contest, lottery, or contrivance whereby21 HLS 13RS-611 ORIGINAL
HCSR NO. 1
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a person risks the loss of any thing of value in order to realize a profit when1
accessing the Internet and despite the passage of this law, many websites exist where2
Louisiana citizens can participate in Internet gaming activities; and3
WHEREAS, in the seventeen years since the crime of gambling by computer4
was created both technology and the use of the Internet have flourished, resulting in5
the ability to conduct gaming activities through the use of a computer or mobile6
device; and7
WHEREAS, many Internet gaming opportunities occur outside the borders of8
the United States with no safeguards regarding the integrity of the games or protection9
of those persons who wager on those games; and10
WHEREAS, Delaware passed legislation authorizing Internet gaming in June11
of 2012, and both Nevada and New Jersey passed similar legislation in February of12
this year to legalize Internet gaming; and13
WHEREAS, within a nine-month period, three states have legalized Internet14
gaming; and15
WHEREAS, Louisiana has the potential to benefit economically by legalizing16
Internet gaming; and17
WHEREAS, by establishing a regulatory framework to authorize Internet18
gaming in Louisiana, the integrity of the games could be ensured and potential19
additional revenue sources could be realized.20
THEREFORE, the Legislature of Louisiana requests the House Committee on21
the Administration of Criminal Justice and the Senate Committee on Judiciary B to22
meet and to function as a joint committee to study the feasibility and practicality of23
authorizing Internet gaming in Louisiana and to report the findings of the joint24
committee to the legislature prior to the convening of the 2014 Regular Session of the25
Legislature of Louisiana.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the joint committee shall seek input from27
the office of the governor, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the office of state28
police gaming division, the gaming division of the office of the attorney general, the29
gaming industry, and any other parties deemed appropriate by the committee. 30 HLS 13RS-611 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 HCSR No. 1
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.