Louisiana House passes HB 53 expanding racketeering law to gambling offenses

The Louisiana House passed HB 53 by votes of 87-11 and 86-11, expanding the state's racketeering statute to include seven gambling-related offenses, according to the Louisiana Legislature and Covers.com. The bill gives prosecutors new authority to treat coordinated illegal gambling operations as organized criminal activity rather than handling each charge separately.

Why it matters

The bill targets operators of unlicensed gambling and gray-market sweepstakes casinos. If enacted, it would allow prosecutors to bring racketeering charges against individuals or groups running multiple illegal gambling operations, increasing potential penalties and enabling asset forfeiture. Licensed operators would gain a clearer enforcement environment, while players using unregulated platforms could face reduced access to those sites.

What HB 53 would change

HB 53 adds seven gambling-related offenses to Louisiana's racketeering predicate list: public gambling, computer-assisted wagering, betting at cockfights, operating electronic sweepstakes devices, unlawful wagering by prohibited players, and bribery of sports participants, according to the bill text. The measure now moves to the Louisiana Senate for consideration.

Maine passes sweepstakes casino ban

Maine took a separate approach. The legislature passed LD 2007, which bans online sweepstakes casinos, according to Covers.com. The bill establishes a dedicated statutory framework that makes operating or promoting these sites illegal. It now awaits the governor's signature.

2026 legislative trend

Louisiana and Maine are not alone. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a comparable sweepstakes casino ban earlier this month, per Covers.com. Similar bills are advancing in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Maryland, according to the same source. Florida is also weighing stricter enforcement measures, though details have not been released.

What remains unclear

The exact effective date of HB 53, if enacted, has not been announced. Gov. Janet Mills' position on LD 2007 has not been stated publicly. Specific penalties under Louisiana's racketeering expansion for gambling offenses have not been detailed.

What happens next

HB 53 heads to the Louisiana Senate for committee hearings and floor votes. LD 2007 sits on the governor's desk. The outcomes in Louisiana and Maine, combined with Indiana's enacted ban, will indicate whether 2026 marks a turning point for state-level enforcement against gray-market gambling operations. Players should verify platform legality through official state regulatory sources.