HLS 22RS-1983 ENGROSSED
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 996
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRYANT
GAMBLING/CHARITABLE: Provides relative to the operation of charitable bingo
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 4:714(C), 724(B)(1) and (9), 732(B)(2) and (I), and 740(A), to
3 enact R.S. 4:724(B)(10), and to repeal R.S. 4:739(E)(1) and (2), relative to charitable
4 gaming; to provide relative to the use of electronic or video bingo games; to provide
5 relative to the cost of each game play; to require machines to accept any
6 denomination of cash in the form of bills or tickets; to provide relative to the limit
7 for the mega jackpot for progressive mega jackpot bingo games; to provide relative
8 to sales of progressive mega jackpot bingo on Electronic Bingo Card Dabber
9 Devices; to provide relative to the number of electronic dabber devices issued to
10 patrons who purchase bingo paper packs; to provide relative to the conducting and
11 regulation of charitable gaming; to provide relative to sales of progressive mega
12 jackpot bingo on Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Devices; and to provide for related
13 matters.
14Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
15 Section 1. R.S. 4:714(C), 724(B)(1) and (9), 732(B)(2) and (I), and 740(A) are
16hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 4:724(B)(10) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
17 §714. Restrictions; requirements; transfers; prohibitions
18 * * *
19 C.(1) Each licensee shall designate an active member and a sufficient
20 number of alternate members of the organization to be in charge of and primarily
21 responsible for each session of a game of chance. Such individual, or alternates, who
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1 shall be designated as the member-in-charge, shall supervise all activities of such
2 session and be responsible for the conduct of all games of such session. The
3 member-in-charge or alternate shall be present at all times on the premises during the
4 session. In addition, each The provisions of this Paragraph shall only apply to call
5 bingo sessions.
6 (2) Each licensee shall designate an active member of the organization to be
7 responsible for the documentation of receipts and disbursements as well as the
8 maintenance of all financial records. Such individual designated shall have been a
9 member in good standing of the organization and shall be familiar with the
10 provisions of this Chapter, applicable local ordinances and regulations, and the rules
11 and regulations of the office.
12 * * *
13 §724. Use of electronic or video bingo games
14 * * *
15 B. Any such electronic bingo machine shall be subject to the following
16 requirements and restrictions concerning its operation and use:
17 (1) The cost of each game play shall be not less than twenty-five cents nor
18 more than one dollar four dollars.
19 * * *
20 (9) A machine shall have a mechanism that accepts any denomination of
21 cash in the form of bills or tickets verifiable as valid indicating the ticket value.
22 (10) No person under the age of eighteen shall assist in the holding,
23 operation, or conducting of electronic or video bingo games.
24 * * *
25 §732. Progressive bingo
26 * * *
27 B.
28 * * *
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1 (2) The mega jackpot for a progressive mega jackpot bingo game played
2 pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this Section and networked or
3 linked together pursuant to Subsection G of this Section may exceed the limit
4 established in R.S. 4:714, but shall not exceed ten thirty thousand dollars. Portions
5 of players' contributions to progressive mega jackpot bingo games may be used for
6 consolation prizes and to contribute to the progressive mega prize pool and shall not
7 be considered part of the limit established in R.S. 4:714(B).
8 * * *
9 I. Sales of progressive mega jackpot bingo on an Electronic Bingo Card
10 Dabber Device for any organization shall not exceed six thirty games per hour and
11 shall not exceed the gross sales of bingo and pull-tabs in a single reporting quarter
12 for any organization. The office may suspend the sales of progressive mega jackpot
13 bingo for any organization that violates the provisions of this Subsection until the
14 organization becomes compliant.
15 * * *
16 §740. Session defined
17 A. A session represents authorized games of chance played within a time
18 limit not to exceed eight consecutive hours, with a minimum of twelve hours
19 between sessions. A licensee may operate no more than five premises for the
20 purpose of charitable gaming activities, however, each licensee may only have one
21 session at each premise per twelve hour period. A session of keno or bingo when the
22 licensee possesses a special license is limited to six eight consecutive hours.
23 Sessions are limited to not more than one session per calendar day per licensee.
24 Organizations are not allowed to begin their session until the stated time on their
25 license issued by the office.
26 * * *
27 Section 2. R.S. 4:739(E)(1) and (2) are hereby repealed in their entirety.
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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)]
HB 996 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session Bryant
Abstract: Provides relative to requirements for certain members of a charitable
organization, provides relative to electronic video bingo machines, increases the
limit for the mega jackpot for a progressive mega jackpot bingo game, and provides
relative to the definition of a session.
Present law (R.S. 4:714(C)) provides that a member of a licensed charity must be present
during any bingo games.
Proposed law amends present law to require a member of the licensed charity to be present
only during call bingo games.
Present law (R.S. 4:724(B)) provides relative to requirements and restrictions for electronic
video bingo machines. Provides that the cost of each game shall not be less than 25¢ nor
more than one dollar.
Proposed law provides that the cost of each game shall not be less than 25¢ nor more than
four dollars. Further requires electronic video bingo machines to have a mechanism that
accepts any denomination of cash in the form of bills or tickets verifiable as valid indicating
the ticket value.
Present law (R.S. 4:732(B)(2)) provides that the mega jackpot for a progressive mega
jackpot bingo game, networked or linked together through the use of Electronic Bingo Card
Dabber Devices, may exceed the present law prize limit of $4,500, but shall not exceed
$10,000.
Proposed law provides that the mega jackpot for a progressive mega jackpot bingo game,
networked or linked together through the use of Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Devices, may
exceed $4,500, but shall not exceed $30,000.
Present law (R.S. 4:732(I)) provides that sales of progressive mega jackpot bingo on an
Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device for any organization shall not exceed six games per
hour and shall not exceed the gross sales of bingo and pull-tabs in a single reporting quarter
for any organization. Authorizes the office of charitable gaming to suspend the sales of
progressive mega jackpot bingo for any organization that violates present law until the
organization becomes compliant.
Proposed law amends present law to provide that the sales of progressive mega jackpot
bingo on an Electronic Bingo Card Dabber Device for any organization shall not exceed 30
games per hour. Proposed law removes the present law prohibition that the sales shall not
exceed the gross sales of bingo and pull-tabs in a single reporting quarter for any
organization.
Present law (R.S. 4:739(E)(1) and (2)) provides that no more than two electronic dabber
devices may be issued to any patron who has purchased bingo paper packs for use with the
device. Further requires at least one electronic dabber device to be used as a back up in the
event a device in play malfunctions.
Proposed law repeals present law.
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HB NO. 996
Present law (R.S. 4:740(A)) provides for the definition of a session, which shall not exceed
eight consecutive hours with a minimum of 12 hours between sessions. Further provides that
a session of keno or bingo when the licensee possesses a special license is limited to six
consecutive hours.
Proposed law amends present law to remove the minimum of twelve hours between sessions.
Authorizes a licensee to operate no more than five premises for the purpose of charitable
gaming activities. Further provides that a session of keno or bingo when the licensee
possesses a special license is limited to eight consecutive hours.
(Amends R.S. 4:714(C), 724(B)(1) and (9), 732(B)(2) and (I), and 740(A); Adds R.S.
4:724(B)(10); Repeals R.S. 4:739(E)(1) and (2))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1. Require a member of the licensed charity to be present only during call bingo
games.
2. Provide that sales of progressive mega jackpot bingo on an Electronic Bingo
Card Dabber Device shall not exceed 30 games per hour rather than six games
per hour and remove the prohibition that the sales shall not exceed the gross sales
of bingo and pull-tabs in a single reporting quarter for any organization.
3. Relative to the definition of a session, remove the present law minimum of 12
hours between sessions, authorize a licensee to operate at no more than five
premises for the purpose of charitable gaming activities, and provide that a
session is limited to eight consecutive hours rather than six consecutive hours
when the licensee possesses a special license.
4. Repeal present law which requires at least one electronic dabber device to be
used as a back up in the event a device in play malfunctions.
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