Louisiana Lawmakers Target Sweepstakes Casinos in Pre-Filed Racketeering Bill

A new Louisiana bill could lead to sweeping changes in how sweepstakes games and bribery offenses are prosecuted. House Bill 53, introduced by Rep. Bryan Fontenot, seeks to redefine racketeering activity to include computer gambling, gambling via electronic sweepstakes devices, and gambling in public spaces. It also targets bribery involving athletes and other sports practitioners, which can impact the sports industry.

Individuals found guilty of racketeering charges face prison time of up to 50 years, up to $1 million in fines, or both. Rep. Fontenot’s bill has been referred to the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

Why Racketeering Puts More Pressure on the Sweeps Industry

Louisiana is taking an aggressive approach towards sweepstakes casino regulations through its HB53. If passed, Louisiana will become the first state to tag these popular sites as “racketeering”. Racketeering laws are statutes designed to penalize and prosecute organized and ongoing criminal activities, not just one-off acts. These laws give prosecutors the power to run after the whole operation.

More importantly, racketeering laws come with heavier penalties. If the Louisiana bill passes, violators could face the following penalties:

• Fines of up to $1 million and  imprisonment of up to 50 years
• Offenders in cases over $10k face mandatory minimums, with no possibility of probation, parole, or suspended sentence

In short, the state’s HB53 is far stricter compared to other state initiatives against sweepstakes casinos with “just civil fines or misdemeanor penalties”.

Louisiana Tightens the Grip On Sweepstakes Casino Operations

This latest legislative push follows recent regulatory efforts aimed at addressing the rise of unregistered online gaming platforms in the state. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) has sent cease-and-desist letters to operators of sweepstakes games. These actions came after Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill that could have banned the sites, saying that the state’s regulators have enough powers to take action. 

Attorney-General Liz Murril also shared her thoughts on the issue through a legal opinion published in July 2025, saying that these sites are unlawful. Ms. Murril’s opinion came after Senator Rick Edmonds made the request following the governor’s veto.

Other states have made progress in reshaping potential regulations on the popular sweepstakes casino games. California, Connecticut, and New York have enacted penalties against these platforms, including fines and license revocations. However, Louisiana’s take is the nation’s first as it classifies the operations of these games as racketeering, with far heavier penalties.

REFERENCES

• US Racketeering Laws
• HB 53