Louisiana lawmakers have moved to broaden the state’s racketeering laws to cover certain gambling offenses. House Bill 53 (HB 53) passed the House Monday with an 86-11 vote, sending the legislation to the Senate for further consideration. The measure aims to criminalize operating electronic sweepstakes devices, bribing athletes, and other gambling activities under the state’s racketeering framework.
Sponsored by Rep. Bryan Fontenot, HB 53 was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice, which approved the bill unanimously earlier this month. After its first reading in the Senate, the legislation is set for a second reading as the chamber evaluates the proposed expansions.
Expanding Racketeering to Gambling Crimes
HB 53 proposes adding online sweepstakes gaming, gambling in public, cockfight wagering, and bribery of sports participants to the definition of racketeering activity. Under Louisiana law, racketeering covers“committing, attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or soliciting, coercing or intimidating another person to commit any crime that is punishable under the following provisions of Title 14 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, or the Louisiana Securities Law.”
Violators face severe penalties, including fines up to $1 million and prison terms that can reach 50 years. Crimes involving more than $10,000 carry mandatory prison sentences of at least five years, with hard labor possible for extended sentences.
HB 53 aligns with ongoing enforcement by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which issued cease-and-desist orders to illegal online sweepstakes casinos after a formal ban was dissolved. The measure mirrors previous legislative attempts, such as Senate Bill 181, which was vetoed by Gov. Jeff Landry for being overly broad.
Addressing Online Sweepstake Platforms
In addition to HB 53, Louisiana is considering House Bill 883, which targets online platforms using dual-currency systems, including operators, providers, and payment processors. Under HB 883, the Attorney General can issue cease-and-desist orders and seek temporary injunctions against violators. The bill has undergone its first reading and has been referred to the same committee handling HB 53.
National Context
Louisiana’s approach reflects a growing trend across US states to regulate sweepstakes-style gaming. Maine, for example, passed LD 2007 to ban online sweepstakes casinos using dual-currency systems, following approval in both the Senate (mid-March) and House (87-55). The legislation provides clarity for operators, defining such platforms as illegal and subjecting violators to penalties including loss of gaming licenses. Gov. Janet Mills has yet to sign the bill.
Other states, including Indiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Maryland, have introduced or passed similar laws targeting sweepstakes casinos. Indiana Gov. Mike Braunrecently signed comparable legislation, reflecting an emerging national pattern of cracking down on online sweepstakes operations.
Louisiana’s HB 53 represents a decisive step to expand racketeering definitions and enforcement tools, allowing prosecutors to pursue organized illegal gambling operations as broader criminal enterprises rather than handling individual violations separately. The measure is part of a wider 2026 legislative trend to strengthen state oversight of emerging gambling markets.
Source:
“Louisiana House approves bill to criminalize sweepstakes gaming as racketeering“, sbcamericas.com, March 31, 2026
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