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2024 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 50
BY SENATOR REESE
GAMBLING. Prohibits certain persons from wagering on sports events. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 14:90.8, relative to sports wagering; to prohibit certain persons from wagering
3 on sports events; to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties; to provide for
4 exceptions; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 14:90.8 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง90.8. Unlawful wagering; prohibited player
8 A.(1) It is unlawful for a prohibited player to wager on a sports event,
9 personally or through another individual or proxy.
10 (2) It is unlawful for a person or entity to facilitate or place a sports
11 wager on behalf of a prohibited player.
12 B. For purposes of this Section, "prohibited player" means a person who
13 is prohibited from placing a wager on a sports event by any of the following:
14 (1) Chapter 10 of Title 27 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
15 particularly R.S. 27:608, or Louisiana Administrative Code Title 42, Part VI.
16 (2) Participation in a self-restriction or self-exclusion program in
17 accordance with R.S. 27:27.1 or Louisiana Administrative Code Title 42, Part
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 50
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1 III, Chapter 3.
2 (3) Any other law, administrative rule, or policy of any jurisdiction, the
3 sports wagering operator, the sports book, or a sports governing body.
4 C. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more
5 than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
6 Upon a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of this Section, the
7 penalty shall be a fine of one thousand dollars, or imprisonment for not more
8 than one year, or both.
9 D. Whoever conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, leases, or
10 owns all or part of a business when the person knowingly allows a prohibited
11 player to wager on a sports event shall be fined not more than twenty thousand
12 dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years,
13 or both.
14 E.(1) A person, business, or entity licensed or sports wagering operator
15 permitted pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 10 of Title 27 of the Louisiana
16 Revised Statutes of 1950 shall not be subject to the penalty contained in
17 Subsection D of this Section if the licensee or permittee has taken commercially
18 reasonable methods to prevent a prohibited player from placing a wager on a
19 sports event in person, on a sports wagering mechanism, or through a mobile
20 application.
21 (2) A sports wagering platform provider permitted pursuant to the
22 provisions of Chapter 10 of Subtitle XI of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised
23 Statutes of 1950 shall not be subject to the penalty contained in Subsection D of
24 this Section if the permittee has taken commercially reasonable methods to
25 prevent a prohibited player from placing a wager on a sports event on a sports
26 wagering mechanism or through a mobile application.
27 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
28 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
29 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
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1 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
2 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument was prepared by Dawn Romero Watson. The
following digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative
instrument, was prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SB 50 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Reese
Present law restricts certain persons from placing a wager on a sports event based on age,
location, affiliation with an individual participant or team in the sports event, and other
factors. Present law also provides for a uniform compulsive and problem gambling program
that allows an individual to request their placement on a list to be excluded from gaming
activities at all gaming establishments. In addition, gaming licensees, operators and sports
governing bodies typically have various restrictions on the placement of sports wagers by
their employees, players and members.
Proposed law creates the crime of a prohibited player placing a wager on a sports event,
personally or through another individual or proxy. Provides that it shall also be a crime for
a person or entity to facilitate or place a sports wager on behalf of a prohibited player.
Proposed law defines "prohibited player" as a person who is prohibited from placing a wager
on a sports event by any of the following:
(1)The sports wagering chapter in the Louisiana Gaming Control Law or in the
correlating Louisiana Administrative Code.
(2)Participation in a self-restriction or self-exclusion program in accordance with the
Louisiana Gaming Control Law or in the correlating Louisiana Administrative Code.
(3)Any other law, administrative rule, or policy of any jurisdiction, the sports wagering
operator, the sports book, or a sports governing body.
Proposed law provides a criminal penalty for a violation of proposed law of a fine not more
than $500, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. On a second and subsequent
violation, the penalty shall be a fine of $1,000, or imprisonment for not more than one year,
or both.
Proposed law provides whoever conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, leases, or
owns all or part of a business when the person knowingly allows a prohibited player to
wager on a sports event shall be fined not more than $20,000, or imprisoned, with or without
hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.
Proposed law provides that a person, business, or entity licensed, or sports wagering operator
permitted, pursuant to the sports wagering law shall not be subject to the penalty if the
licensee or permittee has taken commercially reasonable methods to prevent a prohibited
player from placing a wager on a sports event in person, on a sports wagering mechanism,
or through a mobile application.
Proposed law provides that a sports wagering platform provider permitted by the Louisiana
Lottery shall not be subject to the penalty if the permittee has taken commercially reasonable
methods to prevent a prohibited player from placing a wager on a sports event on a sports
wagering mechanism or through a mobile application.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 50
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(Adds R.S. 14:90.8)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary B to the
original bill
1. Makes technical change.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.