HLS 16RS-965 REENGROSSED
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. 4:732(A) through (D), (E) (introductory paragraph), and (G) and
3 739(A)(1) and (2)(e) and (F), and to enact R.S. 4:707(J) and 739(A)(2)(f), relative
4 to charitable gaming; to authorize the conducting of progressive mega jackpot bingo;
5 to provide with respect to jackpots for progressive mega jackpot bingo games; to
6 provide for exceptions to amount of prizes awarded during a bingo session; to
7 provide for applicability; to provide with respect to Electronic Bingo Card Dabber
8 Devices; to allow those devices to provide for networking of charitable gaming
9 organizations; to provide for player tracking; to provide relative to regulatory
10 authority; and to provide for related matters.
11Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. R.S. 4:732(A) through (D), (E) (introductory paragraph), and (G) and
13739(A)(1) and (2)(e) and (F) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 4:707(J) and
14739(A)(2)(f) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
15 §707. Authorization to license certain organizations; exemption; requirement for
16 state license
17 * * *
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1 J. The governing authority of a municipality or parish may, by ordinance,
2 transfer regulatory authority over charitable gaming in that municipality or parish to
3 the office of charitable gaming.
4 * * *
5 §732. Progressive bingo
6 A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the governing
7 authority of any parish or municipality may permit any charitable licensed
8 organization to conduct progressive, or progressive mega jackpot bingo games. For
9 the purpose of conducting a progressive, or progressive mega jackpot bingo game,
10 such organizations shall:
11 (1) Establish links or networks, electronic, on an Electric Bingo Card Dabber
12 Device and related system or otherwise, between locations, commercial or
13 noncommercial, where licensed charitable bingo games are being conducted.
14 (2) Deposit For a progressive bingo game, deposit a predetermined amount
15 of money not to exceed two hundred dollars per organization into a special account
16 before each licensed call bingo gaming session. Every two-hundred-dollar
17 contribution All contributions to a progressive mega jackpot bingo jackpot shall not
18 constitute part of the total amount of prizes awarded during that session.
19 (3) For progressive mega jackpot bingo, contributions deposited before each
20 gaming session shall not constitute part of the total amount of prizes awarded during
21 that session.
22 B. The mega jackpot for a progressive bingo game, or a progressive mega
23 jackpot bingo game played pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this
24 Section may exceed the limit established in R.S. 4:714 but shall not exceed one
25 hundred thousand dollars. Portions of players' contributions to progressive mega
26 jackpot bingo games may be used for consolation prizes and to contribute to the
27 progressive mega prize pool and shall not be considered part of the limit established
28 in R.S. 4:714(B).
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1 C. Such game If required, such games shall be offered in accordance with
2 rules and regulations adopted by the governing authority of each municipality or the
3 parish which issued a license to any respective organization which participates in a
4 progressive mega jackpot bingo game, and in accordance with the rules and
5 regulations adopted by the office in Subsection D of this Section.
6 D. The office shall adopt rules and regulations governing progressive bingo
7 and progressive mega jackpot bingo games to insure ensure compliance with the
8 provisions of this Chapter and any additional regulations of the state relative to
9 charitable gaming laws.
10 E. Any licensed charitable organization or organizations playing at the same
11 location may conduct progressive blackout bingo games in accordance with rules
12 established and in effect on August 15, 1995, and as follows:
13 * * *
14 G. Organizations may network or link together, including through the use of
15 an Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device to conduct progressive mega jackpot bingo
16 games, as provided in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section, provided the local governing
17 authority of each parish has authorized the conducting of such games in the parish.
18 * * *
19 §739. Use of electronic bingo card dabber devices
20 A.(1) Electronic bingo card dabber devices, hereafter referred to as
21 electronic dabber devices, and defined in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, for the
22 public playing of bingo, progressive bingo, or progressive mega jackpot bingo may
23 be made available at any location licensed under the provisions of this Chapter
24 provided that all requirements of this Section and all requirements of this Chapter not
25 in conflict with this Section are met. Electronic bingo dabber devices shall not be
26 construed to be electronic video bingo machines or electronic pull-tab devices.
27 Electronic bingo dabber devices shall not offer for play the games authorized by the
28 provisions of R.S. 4:724 or R.S. 4:733.
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1 (2) "Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device", or "Electronic Dabber Device",
2 or "EBCDD" means an electronic device used by a bingo player to monitor bingo
3 cards purchased and electronically mark bingo cards downloaded into the device, at
4 the time and place of the licensed charitable bingo session, and which:
5 * * *
6 (e) Will not accept coins, currency, or tokens to activate play. Nothing
7 herein shall prohibit the Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device and related systems
8 from tracking a player's accounts and credits.
9 (f) Provide a means for all accounting functions related to bingo or
10 progressive or progressive mega bingo games.
11 * * *
12 F. The office shall adopt any additional rules and regulations necessary to
13 govern the specifications, use, and operation of electronic dabber devices, and their
14 related systems and shall establish a list of manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers
15 authorized to provide electronic dabber devices or a list of acceptable models of the
16 devices, acceptable serial numbers on such models, or manufacturers, distributors,
17 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 Reengrossed 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.
Present 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.
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HB NO. 708
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.
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.
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 retains these provisions of present law and provides that the progressive mega
jackpot cannot 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.
Proposed law provides that the governing authority of a municipality or parish may, by
ordinance, transfer regulatory authority over charitable gaming in that municipality or parish
to the office of charitable gaming.
Proposed law provides that electronic bingo dabber devices shall not be construed to be
electronic video bingo machines or electronic pull-tab devices. Electronic bingo dabber
devices shall not offer for play the games authorized to be played on electronic video bingo
machines and electronic pull-tab devices.
(Amends R.S.4:732(A) through (E) and (G) and 739(A)(1) and (2)(e) and (F); Adds R.S.
4:707(J) and 739(A)(2)(f))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1. Adds that the governing authority of a municipality or parish may, by ordinance,
transfer regulatory authority over charitable gaming in that municipality or parish
to the office of charitable gaming.
2. Adds that jackpot on progressive mega jackpot bingo game cannot exceed
$100,000.
3. Adds language that electronic bingo dabber devices are not electronic video
bingo machines or electronic pull-tab devices and shall not offer the games
played on those devices.
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