{"id":16170,"date":"2026-05-06T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/?post_type=america&#038;p=16170"},"modified":"2026-05-06T07:48:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T12:48:09","slug":"louisiana-moves-to-classify-illegal-gambling-as-racketeering","status":"publish","type":"america","link":"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/america\/louisiana-moves-to-classify-illegal-gambling-as-racketeering\/","title":{"rendered":"Louisiana moves to classify illegal gambling as racketeering"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Louisiana is preparing one of the toughest anti-illegal gambling crackdowns in the United States after lawmakers approved <strong>House Bill 53 (HB53)<\/strong>, legislation that would classify several gambling offenses as racketeering crimes under the state\u2019s <strong>Louisiana Racketeering Act<\/strong>. The bill, introduced by Representative Bryan Fontenot, was approved by the House <strong>86\u201311<\/strong> on March 30, 2026, passed the Senate <strong>29\u20137<\/strong> on April 27, signed by Senate leadership on <strong>May 4<\/strong> and formally sent to <strong>Governor Jeff Landry<\/strong> on <strong>May 5.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/mve-ads\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/mundo-video-ads-to-attend-g2e-las-vegas-2025-to-strengthen-partnerships-and-boost-brand-visibility-in-the-gaming-industry3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/mundo-video-ads-to-attend-g2e-las-vegas-2025-to-strengthen-partnerships-and-boost-brand-visibility-in-the-gaming-industry3.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/mundo-video-ads-to-attend-g2e-las-vegas-2025-to-strengthen-partnerships-and-boost-brand-visibility-in-the-gaming-industry3-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/mundo-video-ads-to-attend-g2e-las-vegas-2025-to-strengthen-partnerships-and-boost-brand-visibility-in-the-gaming-industry3-768x442.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The legislation dramatically escalates penalties for illegal gambling activity by moving certain offenses from traditional gambling violations into organized crime territory. If signed into law, offenses including \u201cgambling by computer,\u201d electronic sweepstakes devices, unlawful wagering, public gambling and sports bribery could trigger penalties of up to <strong>50 years in prison<\/strong> and fines reaching <strong>$1 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"728\" height=\"415\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/louisiana-moves-to-classify-illegal-gambling-as-racketeering2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16172\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/louisiana-moves-to-classify-illegal-gambling-as-racketeering2.png 728w, https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/louisiana-moves-to-classify-illegal-gambling-as-racketeering2-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Bryan Fontenot<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The central target is the growing sweepstakes casino sector. Louisiana lawmakers argue that many dual-currency platforms effectively operate as unlicensed online casinos while avoiding gaming taxes, licensing requirements and responsible gambling obligations. HB53 works alongside proposed <strong>House Bill 883<\/strong>, which seeks to formally define dual currency sweepstakes models as illegal gambling under Louisiana law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The state\u2019s regulated gaming market is overseen by the <strong>Louisiana Gaming Control Board<\/strong>, chaired in 2026 by <strong>Ronnie Johns<\/strong>, together with the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division. <strong>Attorney General Liz Murrill<\/strong> has also publicly supported stronger enforcement against offshore and sweepstakes operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"577\" height=\"355\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/louisiana-moves-to-classify-illegal-gambling-as-racketeering3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16171\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/louisiana-moves-to-classify-illegal-gambling-as-racketeering3.png 577w, https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/louisiana-moves-to-classify-illegal-gambling-as-racketeering3-300x185.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 577px) 100vw, 577px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Ronnie Johns<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Louisiana already operates one of the largest regulated gaming markets in the southern United States, including riverboat casinos, racinos, retail sportsbooks and Caesars New Orleans. Sports betting is legal and regulated, but online casinos remain prohibited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/landing\/multigame-link\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/multigame-diamod-III-700-eng.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9622\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/multigame-diamod-III-700-eng.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/multigame-diamod-III-700-eng-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/multigame-diamod-III-700-eng-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The shift signals a broader change in U.S. gambling enforcement strategy, because Louisiana is moving beyond administrative penalties toward criminal prosecution, using racketeering law, AML pressure and organized crime statutes to target operators outside the regulated market while strengthening protections for licensed gaming companies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Louisiana is preparing one of the toughest anti-illegal gambling crackdowns in the United States after lawmakers approved House Bill 53 (HB53), legislation that would classify several gambling offenses as racketeering crimes under the state\u2019s Louisiana Racketeering Act.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16173,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1458,1488,57,15,11,4708,102,105],"class_list":{"0":"post-16170","1":"america","2":"type-america","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sin-categoria","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-ban","10":"tag-casinos","11":"tag-gambling","12":"tag-illegal-gambling","13":"tag-louisiana","14":"tag-online-betting","15":"tag-sports-betting","16":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.6 - 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