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2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 300
BY SENATOR JACKSON
GAMING. Provides relative to the Charitable Raffles, Bingo, and Keno Licensing Law.
(gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 4:714 and 740(A), and to enact R.S. 4:724.1, relative to
3 charitable gaming; to provide relative to restrictions, requirements, transfers, and
4 prohibitions; to provide for operation of machines; to provide relative to gaming time
5 limits; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 4:714 and 740(A) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
8 4:724.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §714. Restrictions; requirements; transfers; prohibitions
10 A. No licensee shall hold, operate, or conduct any game of chance under this
11 Chapter more often than on twenty days in any one calendar month.
12 B. The total amount of prizes which may be awarded in any one session by
13 a licensee shall not exceed four thousand five hundred dollars in cash or other thing
14 or things of value, except as specifically provided in R.S. 4:707(A)(1) and (5), 710,
15 724, 725, 725.1, and 732. The office shall establish by rule the method of calculating
16 the value of any thing offered as a prize.
17 C.B. In addition to the requirement of R.S. 4:712 to display its local license,
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1 each licensee shall conspicuously display its charitable gaming license issued by the
2 office at the premises where any game is conducted at all times during such conduct.
3 D.C. Each licensee shall designate an active member and a sufficient number
4 of alternate members of the organization to be in charge of and primarily responsible
5 for each session of a game of chance. Such individual, or alternates, who shall be
6 designated as the member-in-charge, shall supervise all activities of such session and
7 be responsible for the conduct of all games of such session. The member-in-charge
8 or alternate shall be present at all times on the premises during the session. In
9 addition, each licensee shall designate an active member of the organization to be
10 responsible for the documentation of receipts and disbursements as well as the
11 maintenance of all financial records. Such individual designated shall have been a
12 member in good standing of the organization and shall be familiar with the
13 provisions of this Chapter, applicable local ordinances and regulations, and the rules
14 and regulations of the office.
15 E.D. No licensee shall purchase or otherwise obtain any gaming supplies or
16 equipment from any distributor or manufacturer until it has first determined that the
17 individual selling or otherwise offering such supplies or equipment has a valid
18 license issued by the office.
19 F.E. No licensee shall allow any person under eighteen years of age to assist
20 in the holding, operation, or conduct of any game of chance. Charitable raffles as
21 provided for in R.S. 4:707(D)(2) shall be exempted from requirements of this
22 Subsection.
23 G.F.(1) All proceeds from each gaming session, other than that amount paid
24 out as cash prizes and that amount retained as a cash bank, shall be deposited into a
25 bank account, known as a charitable gaming account, maintained by the charitable
26 organization solely for such deposits. Such deposits shall occur no later than the
27 second banking day following the date the gaming session begins, but in no case
28 more than five calendar days later.
29 (2) Any charitable organization may transfer gaming proceeds from its
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1 charitable gaming account to any other bank account controlled by the organization,
2 subject to the administrative rules promulgated by the office pursuant to R.S.
3 4:705(10)(b).
4 * * *
5 §724.1. Operation of machines
6 A. Time, location, and duration of play. Electronic video bingo machines
7 may be available in any location licensed for charitable bingo and played in the
8 following manner:
9 (1) At commercial locations the machines may be played only during the
10 times when an organization is licensed with a minimum of one member present
11 on the premises.
12 (2) At noncommercial locations the machines may be played by the
13 general public when call bingo is played.
14 (3) At noncommercial locations the machines may also be played by the
15 membership of the organization and the general public at times other than
16 called bingo, not to exceed the total number of sessions for bingo authorized by
17 the local jurisdiction.
18 B. A violation of the aforementioned provisions result in a civil violation
19 and fine and possible revocation of license.
20 * * *
21 §740. Session defined
22 A. A session represents authorized games of chance played within a time
23 limit not to exceed six eight consecutive hours, with a minimum of twelve hours
24 between sessions. A session of keno or bingo when the licensee possesses a special
25 license is limited to six consecutive hours. Sessions are limited to not more than one
26 session per calendar day per licensee. Organizations are not allowed to begin their
27 session until the stated time on their license issued by the office.
28 * * *
29 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
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1 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
2 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
3 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
4 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument was prepared by James Benton. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SB 300 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session Jackson
Present law provides that no licensee will hold, operate, or conduct any game of chance
under present law more often than on 20 days in any one calendar month.
Proposed law removes this provision.
Present law provides that a "session" represents authorized games of chance played within
a time limit not to exceed six consecutive hours, with a minimum of 12 hours between
sessions. A session of keno or bingo when the licensee possesses a special license is limited
to six consecutive hours. Sessions are limited to not more than one session per calendar day
per licensee.
Proposed law retains present law but changes the time limit from six to eight consecutive
hours.
Proposed law authorizes electronic video bingo machines to be available in any location
licensed for charitable bingo and played in the following manner:
(1)At commercial locations the machines may be played only during the times when an
organization is licensed with a minimum of one member present on the premises.
(2)At noncommercial locations the machines may be played by the general public when
call bingo is played.
(3)At noncommercial locations the machines may also be played by the membership of
the organization and the general public at times other than called bingo, not to
exceed the total number of sessions for bingo authorized by the local jurisdiction.
Proposed law provides that a violation of the aforementioned provisions will result in a civil
violation and fine, and possible revocation of license.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 4:714 and 740(A); adds R.S. 4:724.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary B to the
original bill
1. Removes provisions relative to lease of premises.
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2. Adds provisions relative to time, location, and duration of play for electronic
video bingo machines.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.