HLS 16RS-965 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 708
BY REPRESENTATIVE TERRY LANDRY
GAMBLING/CHARITABLE: Provides with respect to progressive bingo
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 4:707(F)(3), 732, and 739(A)(2)(e), and to enact R.S.
3 4:739(A)(2)(f), relative to charitable gaming; to authorize the conducting of
4 progressive mega jackpot bingo; to provide with respect to jackpots for progressive
5 mega jackpot bingo games; to provide for exceptions to amount of prizes awarded
6 during a bingo session; to provide for applicability; to provide with respect to
7 Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Devices; to allow those devices to provide for
8 networking of charitable gaming organizations; to provide for player tracking; and
9 to provide for related matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 4:707(F)(3), 732, and 739(A)(2)(e) are hereby amended and
12reenacted and R.S. 4:739(A)(2)(f) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §707. Authorization to license certain organizations; exemption; requirement for
14 state license
15 * * *
16 F.
17 * * *
18 (3) A charitable organization, upon application to the office and, if required,
19 to the municipality or parish, shall be exempt from the licensing and reporting
20 requirements provided in R.S. 4:708 through 716 of this Chapter for the purpose of
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1 conducting a raffle as defined in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section in any municipality
2 or parish the governing authority of which has decided to permit raffles, bingo, and
3 keno within its limits as provided in R.S. 4:706, provided the office and, if required,
4 the municipality or parish finds, upon such application, that the charitable
5 organization is conducting such raffle for the purpose of providing support to any
6 elementary or secondary school in the municipality or parish or for other purposes
7 of community support.
8 * * *
9 §732. Progressive bingo
10 A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the office and, if
11 required, the governing authority of any parish or municipality may permit any
12 charitable licensed organization to conduct progressive, or progressive mega jackpot
13 bingo games. For the purpose of conducting a progressive, or progressive mega
14 jackpot bingo game, such organizations shall:
15 (1) Establish links or networks, electronic, on an Electric Bingo Card Dabber
16 Device and related system or otherwise, between locations, commercial or
17 noncommercial, where licensed charitable bingo games are being conducted.
18 (2) Deposit For a progressive bingo game, deposit a predetermined amount
19 of money not to exceed two hundred dollars per organization into a special account
20 before each licensed call bingo gaming session. Every two-hundred-dollar
21 contribution All contributions to a progressive mega jackpot bingo jackpot shall not
22 constitute part of the total amount of prizes awarded during that session.
23 (3) For progressive mega jackpot bingo, contributions deposited before each
24 gaming session shall not constitute part of the total amount of prizes awarded during
25 that session.
26 B. The mega jackpot for a progressive bingo game played pursuant to and
27 in accordance with the provisions of this Section may exceed the limit established
28 in R.S. 4:714 but shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars. Portions of players'
29 contributions to progressive mega jackpot bingo games may be used for consolation
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1 prizes and to contribute to the progressive mega prize pool and shall not be
2 considered part of the limit established in R.S. 4:714(B).
3 C. Such game If required, such games shall be offered in accordance with
4 rules and regulations adopted by the governing authority of each municipality or the
5 parish which issued a license to any respective organization which participates in a
6 progressive mega jackpot bingo game, and in accordance with the rules and
7 regulations adopted by the office in Subsection D of this Section.
8 D. The office shall adopt rules and regulations governing progressive bingo
9 and progressive mega jackpot bingo games to insure compliance with the provisions
10 of this Chapter and any additional regulations of the state relative to charitable
11 gaming laws.
12 E. Any licensed charitable organization or organizations playing at the same
13 location may conduct progressive blackout bingo games in accordance with rules
14 established and in effect on August 15, 1995, and as follows:
15 * * *
16 G. Organizations may network or link together, including through the use of
17 an Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device to conduct progressive mega jackpot bingo
18 games, as provided in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section, provided the local governing
19 authority of each parish has authorized the conducting of such games in the parish.
20 * * *
21 §739. Use of electronic bingo card dabber devices
22 A.(1) Electronic bingo card dabber devices, hereafter referred to as
23 electronic dabber devices, and defined in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, for the
24 public playing of bingo, progressive bingo, or progressive mega jackpot bingo may
25 be made available at any location licensed under the provisions of this Chapter
26 provided that all requirements of this Section and all requirements of this Chapter not
27 in conflict with this Section are met.
28 (2) "Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device", or "Electronic Dabber Device",
29 or "EBCDD" means an electronic device used by a bingo player to monitor bingo
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1 cards purchased and electronically mark bingo cards downloaded into the device, at
2 the time and place of the licensed charitable bingo session, and which:
3 * * *
4 (e) Will not accept coins, currency, or tokens to activate play. Nothing
5 herein shall prohibit the Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device and related systems
6 from tracking a player's accounts and credits.
7 (f) Provide a means for all accounting functions related to bingo or
8 progressive or progressive mega bingo games.
9 * * *
10 F. The office shall adopt any additional rules and regulations necessary to
11 govern the specifications, use, and operation of electronic dabber devices, and their
12 related systems and shall establish a list of manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers
13 authorized to provide electronic dabber devices or a list of acceptable models of the
14 devices, acceptable serial numbers on such models, or manufacturers, distributors,
15 or suppliers.
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)]
HB 708 Original 2016 Regular Session Terry Landry
Abstract: Provides for progressive mega jackpot bingo.
Present law provides for the conducting of bingo, raffles, electronic pull tabs, and electronic
video bingo by charitable gaming organizations.
resent law provides for the regulation of these activities by the office of charitable gaming,
Dept. of Revenue.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for the use of electronic bingo card dabber devices and provides for the
function of these devices.
Proposed law expands the functions of bingo card dabber devices to include networking of
charitable gaming organizations, player tracking, and accounting functions related to bingo,
progressive bingo, and progressive mega bingo games.
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HB NO. 708
Present law requires a predetermined amount, not to exceed $200, to be deposited into a
special account before each bingo gaming session, and be part of the total amount of prizes
awarded during that session.
Present law requires, for progressive bingo games, that the operator deposit a predetermined
amount of money not to exceed $200 per organization into a special account before each
licensed call bingo gaming session. Every $200 contribution shall constitute part of the total
amount of prizes awarded during that session.
Proposed law provides for progressive mega jackpot bingo that all contributions shall not
constitute part of the total amount of prizes awarded during a session and that contributions
deposited before each gaming session shall not constitute part of the total amount of prizes
awarded during that session.
Present law provides that the jackpot for a progressive bingo game may exceed the $4,500
prize limit but shall not exceed $100,000.
Proposed law provides that portions of player's contributions to progressive mega jackpot
bingo games may be used for consolation prizes and to contribute to the progressive mega
prize pool and shall not be considered part of the $4,500 limit.
(Amends R.S. 4:707(F)(3), 732, and 739(A)(2)(e); Adds R.S. 4:739(A)(2)(f))
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