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LouisianaHB 8832026 Regular SessionHouse

GAMBLING: Provides relative to enforcement of illegal online gambling (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

Sponsored By: Laurie Schlegel (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Judiciary BAdministration of Criminal Justice

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.

Online gambling businesses face higher penalties

The maximum fine for covered online gambling operators rises from $20,000 to $100,000, with up to five years in prison. Both penalties can apply, and prison terms can include hard labor. This also covers people providing or managing services mainly to run gambling as a business. People who knowingly help operate or promote illegal online gambling face up to $20,000, five years in prison, or both. Covered helpers include developers, content suppliers, geolocation providers, promoters, endorsers, and media affiliates. The helper fine doubles to $40,000 when knowing support for the operation or conduct involves someone under 21. Each wager offered or accepted and each individual promotion counts separately. Courts must also take away profits, gains, gross receipts, and other benefits earned from violations.

Louisiana online bettors face criminal penalties

People physically in Louisiana who intentionally place covered online wagers face criminal penalties. Each wager carries up to a $500 fine, six months in jail, or both, and counts separately. Covered activities include online games that simulate gambling and use two currencies exchangeable for prizes, cash, or winning chances. The broader rule covers internet gambling where someone in Louisiana risks something of value to make a profit. Licensed on-site casino and pari-mutuel betting are excluded. Fantasy sports and certain licensed sports wagers remain governed by separate laws.

Gambling sites face shutdowns and account freezes

The attorney general or Gaming Control Board chairman can send covered operators, promoters, platforms, and processors cease-and-desist notices. Notices must describe the activity, warn of possible fines, and allow no more than 10 days after receipt to stop. The attorney general keeps a public notice collection and publishes identified operators, website addresses, platforms, and processors. A properly served notice is evidence that the recipient knew about the illegal activity. Out-of-state website operators face Louisiana jurisdiction when they know or should know their information reaches Louisiana through a platform. The attorney general can investigate, issue subpoenas, and seek temporary or permanent court orders to stop violations. Courts can block websites or links, freeze related bank or credit accounts, remove access, and stop payments or promotion. Violations establish irreparable harm for injunction purposes; emergency orders can issue without advance participation by the target, with a hearing within 30 days. Platforms or processors that violate court orders face $50,000 for a first violation and $100,000 for each later violation. Later penalties apply per day of continued website access or per additional gambling transaction or supporting act, as applicable.

Platforms and processors face gambling restrictions

Payment processors cannot knowingly handle transactions tied to covered online gambling by someone physically in Louisiana. Platforms cannot handle information they reasonably believe is or will be used for illegal online gambling. Both are treated as knowing about operators and website addresses on the attorney general's public list. Offering an advertisement for a listed operator or website is evidence that a platform supports the activity. Ignoring a cease-and-desist notice can trigger criminal penalties for knowingly helping gambling. Processors and platforms may block suspected transactions or traffic, with protection from tort lawsuits for permitted preventive steps. Federally insured financial institutions, their subsidiaries and affiliates, and payment-card networks are exempt. Normal internet access services are not covered merely for providing access, unless their main business purpose is gambling. Federal protections for third-party content remain in place; court relief against otherwise uninvolved platforms is limited to specific offending websites or links on servers they control.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Laurie Schlegel

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 143 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/12/2026

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 182.

    5/15/2026House

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

    5/15/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/14/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    5/14/2026House

  5. Received from the Senate without amendments.

    5/13/2026House

  6. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/13/2026House

  7. Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/12/2026Senate

  8. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

    5/4/2026Senate

  9. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    4/29/2026Senate

  10. Reported favorably.

    4/28/2026Senate

  11. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.

    4/20/2026Senate

  12. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    4/15/2026Senate

  13. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    4/14/2026House

  14. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/14/2026.

    4/13/2026House

  15. Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

    4/9/2026House

  16. Reported with amendments (9-0).

    4/8/2026House

  17. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

    3/9/2026House

  18. Prefiled.

    2/27/2026House

  19. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

    2/27/2026House

  20. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

    2/27/2026House

Bill Text

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