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2016 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 188
BY SENATOR JOHNS
GAMING. Provides relative to Charitable Gaming. (8/1/16)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 4:707(F)(3), 732(A), (B), (C), (D), the introductory paragraph
3 of (E), and (G), and 739(A)(1) and (2)(e) and (F) and to enact R.S. 4:739(A)(2)(f),
4 relative to the Charitable Raffles, Bingo, and Keno Licensing law; to provide for
5 progressive mega jackpot bingo; to provide for licensing exceptions; to provide for
6 the use of Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Devices; to provide for contributions to
7 jackpots; to provide for the adoption of rules and regulations; to provide for
8 compliance with agency rules and regulations; to allow the use of an Electronic
9 Bingo Card Dabber Device system; to allow for the tracking of accounts and credits
10 through certain systems; to provide for accounting functions; and to provide for
11 related matters.
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13 Section 1. R.S. 4:707(F)(3), 732(A), (B), (C), (D), the introductory paragraph of (E),
14 and (G), and 739(A)(1) and (2)(e) and (F) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
15 4:739(A)(2)(f) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
16 §707. Authorization to license certain organizations; exemption; requirement for
17 state license
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1 * * *
2 F.(1) * * *
3 (3) A charitable organization, upon application to the office, and if required,
4 the municipality or parish, shall be exempt from the licensing and reporting
5 requirements provided in R.S. 4:708 through 716 of this Chapter for the purpose of
6 conducting a raffle as defined in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section in any municipality
7 or parish the governing authority of which has decided to permit raffles, bingo, and
8 keno within its limits as provided in R.S. 4:706, provided the office, and if required,
9 the municipality or parish finds, upon such application, that the charitable
10 organization is conducting such raffle for the purpose of providing support to any
11 elementary or secondary school in the municipality or parish or for other purposes
12 of community support.
13 * * *
14 §732. Progressive bingo
15 A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the office, and if
16 required, the governing authority of any parish or municipality may permit any
17 charitable licensed organization to conduct progressive or progressive mega jackpot
18 bingo games. For the purpose of conducting a progressive or progressive mega
19 jackpot bingo game, such organizations shall:
20 (1) Establish links or networks, electronic or otherwise, on an Electronic
21 Bingo Card Dabber Device "EBCDD" and related system, between locations,
22 commercial or noncommercial, where licensed charitable bingo games are being
23 conducted.
24 (2) Deposit For a progressive bingo game, deposit a predetermined amount
25 of money not to exceed two hundred dollars per organization into a special account
26 before each licensed call bingo gaming session. Every two-hundred-dollar
27 contribution shall constitute part of the total amount of prizes awarded during that
28 session All contributions to a progressive bingo jackpot shall not constitute part
29 of the total amount of prizes awarded during that session.
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1 (3) For progressive mega jackpot bingo, any contributions deposited
2 before each gaming session shall not constitute part of the total amount of prizes
3 awarded during that session.
4 B. The mega jackpot for a progressive bingo game, or a progressive mega
5 jackpot bingo game, played pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of
6 this Section may exceed the limit established in R.S. 4:714 but shall not exceed one
7 hundred thousand dollars. Portions of players' contributions to progressive mega
8 jackpot games may be used for consolation prizes or to contribute to
9 progressive mega jackpot prize pools and shall not be considered part of the
10 limit established in R.S. 4:714(B).
11 C. Such game If required, such games shall be offered in accordance with
12 rules and regulations adopted by the governing authority of each municipality or the
13 parish which issued a license to any respective organization which participates in a
14 progressive mega jackpot bingo game, and in accordance with the rules and
15 regulations adopted by the office in Subsection D of this Section.
16 D. The office shall adopt rules and regulations governing progressive bingo
17 and progressive mega jackpot bingo games to insure ensure compliance with the
18 provisions of this Chapter and any additional regulations of the state relative to
19 charitable gaming laws.
20 E. Any licensed charitable organization or organizations playing at the same
21 location may conduct progressive blackout bingo games in accordance with rules
22 established and in effect on August 15, 1995, and as follows:
23 * * *
24 G. Organizations may network or link together, including through the use
25 of an EBCDD and related systems, to conduct progressive mega jackpot bingo
26 games, as provided in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section, provided the local governing
27 authority of each parish has authorized the conducting of such games in the parish.
28 * * *
29 §739. Use of electronic bingo card dabber devices
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1 A.(1) Electronic bingo card dabber devices, hereafter referred to as electronic
2 dabber devices, and defined in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, for the public
3 playing of bingo, progressive bingo, or progressive mega jackpot bingo may be
4 made available at any location licensed under the provisions of this Chapter provided
5 that all requirements of this Section and all requirements of this Chapter not in
6 conflict with this Section are met. Electronic bingo card dabber devices shall not
7 be construed to be electronic video bingo machines or electronic pull-tab devices
8 and shall not be authorized to play games authorized by the provisions of R.S.
9 4:724 or R.S. 4:733.
10 (2) "Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device", or "Electronic Dabber Device",
11 or "EBCDD" means an electronic device used by a bingo player to monitor bingo
12 cards purchased and electronically mark bingo cards downloaded into the device, at
13 the time and place of the licensed charitable bingo session, and which:
14 * * *
15 (e) Will not accept coins, currency, or tokens to activate play. Nothing
16 herein shall prohibit the EBCDD and related systems from tracking a player's
17 account and credits.
18 (f) Provide a means for all accounting functions related to bingo,
19 progressive bingo, or progressive mega jackpot bingo games.
20 * * *
21 F. The office shall adopt any additional rules and regulations necessary to
22 govern the specifications, use, and operation of electronic dabber devices and their
23 related systems and shall establish a list of manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers
24 authorized to provide electronic dabber devices or a list of acceptable models of the
25 devices, acceptable serial numbers on such models, or manufacturers, distributors,
26 or suppliers.
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The original instrument was prepared by Ashley Menou. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Tammy Crain-Waldrop.
DIGEST
SB 188 Reengrossed 2016 Regular Session Johns
Present law provides exceptions to the licensing and reporting requirement for certain
charitable organizations under certain conditions. Present law exempts charitable
organizations from reporting and licensing requirements if, after application to the
municipality or parish, it is determined the gaming is done for the purpose of providing
support to any elementary or secondary school in the municipality or parish or for other
purposes of community support.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that a charitable organization seeking exemption
of licensing and reporting requirements because the gaming is for the benefit of a school
must submit an application to the Office of Charitable Gaming and, if applicable, the
municipality or parish.
Present law permits the governing authority of a parish or municipality to permit any
charitable licensed organization to conduct progressive or mega jackpot bingo games and
establish networks or links between gaming locations.
Proposed law retains present law and allows the Office of Charitable Gaming to also permit
organizations to conduct progressive mega jackpot bingo games and utilize electronic bingo
card dabber devices and related systems to connect gaming locations.
Present law requires a predetermined amount, not to exceed $200, be deposited by the
organization 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 that only for a progressive bingo game, a deposit in a predetermined
amount, not exceeding $200, must be deposited into a special account prior to a bingo game
and all contributions to a progressive bingo jackpot will not be considered part of the total
amount of prizes awarded during the session.
Proposed law allows portions of players' contributions to progressive mega jackpot games
to be used for consolation prizes or to contribute to progressive mega jackpot prize pools.
Proposed law further provides that such contributions are not to be considered part of the
$4,500 limit established in present law.
Present law requires that progressive bingo games be conducted in compliance with rules
and regulations adopted by the municipality or parish which issued the license. Present law
also requires the Office of Charitable Gaming to adopt rules and regulations governing
progressive bingo games and compliance with the applicable laws.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that the Office of Charitable Gaming will also
adopt rules and regulations governing progressive bingo games and all progressive bingo,
and bingo games be conducted in accordance with any local rule or regulation and with all
rules and regulations adopted by the office.
Present law provides that any licensed charitable organization playing at the same location
may conduct progressive blackout bingo games in accordance with rules and:
(1)Offer a second progressive bingo game.
(2)May establish a maximum jackpot or cap for each progressive bingo game offered
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by the organization. Provides that the participating organizations may continue
contributions to the Charitable Gaming Progressive Jackpot Account to accumulate
a backup jackpot which may be applied to either or both progressive games.
(3)Must continuously and conspicuously display the dollar amount of each jackpot cap
along with the current dollar amount of the progressive jackpot.
(4)May add to any call bingo game played during a bingo session progressive jackpot
game.
(5)During the course of a progressive jackpot and prior to a jackpot win, may raise but
not lower the jackpot cap. Provides that in the event the jackpot cap is raised,
contributions in the amount of $200 per game recommence.
Proposed law deletes requirement that the progressive game be a blackout, but otherwise
retains present law.
Present law allows licensed organizations to network or link together to conduct progressive
mega jackpot bingo games with authorization from the local governing authority.
Proposed law retains present law and allows licensed organizations to also use an Electronic
Bingo Card Dabber Device (EBCDD) and related systems to conduct progressive mega
jackpot bingo.
Present law allows for EBCDD to be used for bingo games.
Proposed law allows EBCDD to also be used for progressive bingo and progressive mega
jackpot bingo.
Proposed law provides that EBCDD are not to be construed as electronic video bingo
machines or electronic pull-tab devices and also prohibits use of EBCDD to play certain
games.
Present law defines EBCDD, in part, as an electronic device which will not accept coins,
currency, or tokens to activate play.
Proposed law retains present law, and adds that nothing shall prohibit the EBCDD and
related systems from tracking a player's account and credits or providing a means for all
accounting functions related to bingo, progressive bingo, or progressive mega jackpot bingo.
Effective August 1, 2016.
(Amends R.S. 4:707(F)(3), 732(A), (B), (C), (D), (E)(intro para), and (G), and 739(A)(1) and
(2)(e) and (F); adds R.S. 4:739(A)(2)(f))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary B to the
original bill
1. Technical corrections to citations.
2. Adds provision that EBCDD are not electronic video bingo machines or
electronic pull-tab devices.
3. Adds prohibition on the use of EBCDD to play certain games.
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Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Legislative Bureau amendments.
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