Along with a great variety of gambling options, you can be sure that distinct laws and regulations are governing each. Below we take a look at the overview of laws governing each form of legalised gambling in the state of Louisiana:

• Horseracing: Horseracing has been well regulated since 1929 and is the only legalised animal racing allowed in Louisiana. Pari-Mutuel betting on the outcomes of these races is legal and can be done at one of the many tracks, or remotely at regulated off-site facilities via simulcast. Horseracing is the only legalised online version of betting allowed within the state and requires all betters to be at least 18 years of age to partake.

• Lottery: After ups and downs with the lottery in the 19th century, the state has found a great balance in this market, thanks to strict regulations introduced in 1991. Most of the revenues generated by the lotto go towards charitable work in the state. Players of 18 years or older may purchase lottery tickets from the relevant lotto dealers. Unfortunately, tickets cannot be sold or purchased legally online.

• Video Poker: While casino games are restricted to tribal lands or water-based casinos (except one), video poker has been legalised for bars, taverns, truck stops, and racetracks by the majority of districts in the state. The laws around where these pokies may be played differ from regions to region as well as the tax rate on the revenues therefrom. Video poker can attract tax charges of between 22,5% and 32.5%, depending on where they are situated.

• Casino Gaming: The laws surrounding casino gambling are quite involved and are restricted to players no younger than 21 years of age. There are officially 21 licensed casinos in Louisiana. 6 of these are regulated n accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and are on tribal reserves. The other 15 are regulated by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

Traditionally, non-tribal casinos may only be situated on the water. This is why 14 of the 15 operators are on river barges and boats. While the original intent was that these riverboats would cruise around while players gambled, most gamblers preferred to stay docked when they played. For this reason, most of the riverside casinos remained docked at all times.

Only Harrah’s Casino is an exception to this riverboat rule. This casino is found in the heart of New Orleans, finding concession from the regular laws purely because it struck a deal with the state. It promised to limit the amount of competition it would give to other restaurant and hotel businesses in the area and would guarantee that it would give part/full-time employment to 2,400 Louisianas residents to help boost the economy. It also agreed to pay $100,000 in taxes on an annual basis to the government. This has since been lowered to $60,000 per annum.

• Charitable Gaming:  Charitable games like Bingo, Raffles, and Pooled Games of Chance may be offered exclusively by registered Non-Profit Organisations within the state, for the generating of revenues towards charitable works. Regulation of these practices guards against individuals and businesses offering these services for commercial income gains. Bingo players must be 18 years or older to play.

• Daily Fantasy Sports: For a long time Daily Fantasy Sports were outlawed in Louisiana, however, after in a turn around after the mid-term elections in 2018, 47 of the 64 district parishes in the state legalised the pass-time. The laws outlawing online gambling were legally circumvented by a declaration that Fantasy Sports were not considered gambling, but rather games of chance. There, therefore, remains no age restriction against playing these virtual games.

Because gambling is legal and regulated in the state of Lousiana, residents that earn $5,000 or more from gambling in a tax year, must submit their winnings to the IRS. They will be liable for 24% of their winnings for federal taxes and an additional 5% for state taxes.

All licensing is controlled and monitored by the Louisiana Gaming Board in partnership with the State Police Gaming Enforcement Division. This division is committed to the strict control and enforcement of the state’s gambling legislature to ensure:

• The safeguarding of the public from corrupt and dishonest practitioners.
• The instillment of public confidence in ethical gambling practices.
• Protection of State Assets.
• The integrity of Gaming Devices.

Casino licenses are subject to an annual fee of $3,000 per year while Video Poker establishments pay fees of $10.000 per annum, however, applying for and maintaining a valid gambling license is not a straight forward affair. The vetting process is rigorous, especially for new registrations. Full criminal and financial background checks will be done before due diligence of your business is even looked at; this includes the investigation into expunged records. Should any signs flag of fraud, misappropriation of funds, or past gambling legal issues, no license request can be granted.

Licensing involves an extensive list of requirements, including:

• Gaming licenses or licensing applications in other states
• Criminal charges in any jurisdiction
• Civil lawsuits in which the applicant was a defendant in the past five year
• Subpoenas for testimony in any jurisdiction
• Any work as a lobbyist in Louisiana
• Regulatory actions in any jurisdiction
• Identity of the operator with whom the applicant will conduct business
• Location of warehouses and storage facilities
• Number and identification of commercial delivery vehicles
• Financial history, including interest holders and bankruptcy proceedings
• Location of records and books
• Statements of assets and liabilities

As you can see from the above official requirements, the licensing procedure is complexed, ensuring that the ethical standards of the state are observed. Further investigation into licensing reveals that not only the casino must be licensed, but each employee (especially Key Employees) must go through vetting before they are allowed to operate at a gambling house or casino.