Louisiana lawmakers have filed a new bill that could raise the stakes for sweepstakes casinos operating in the state. The proposal, House Bill 53, was prefiled on January 30, 2026 by Rep. Bryan Fontenot. Instead of creating a brand-new ban, the bill would add certain gambling crimes—including “gambling by electronic sweepstakes device”—to Louisiana’s list of crimes that can trigger racketeering charges.
Louisiana already treats many sweepstakes-style casino platforms as unlawful. What makes this bill different is the possible jump in penalties if prosecutors can use racketeering laws. The bill is now pending in the House Administration of Criminal Justice committee.
What HB 53 Would Change
HB 53 focuses on one main legal move: expanding what counts as “racketeering activity” under Louisiana law. Racketeering laws are often used for organized criminal activity, because they can reach not only the main operator but also people who help the broader “enterprise.”
Under the bill, several gambling-related crimes would be added as “predicate offenses.” That means if someone commits, attempts, or conspires to commit these crimes, it could help form the basis for a racketeering case.
The list added by HB 53 includes classic gambling crimes like Gambling and Gambling by Computer, but it also includes a key sweepstakes-related item: Gambling by Electronic Sweepstakes Device. The bill also adds Unlawful Wagering and Bribery of Sports Participants to the racketeering list.
Supporters say this is about giving law enforcement stronger tools. Critics may worry about overreach, depending on how broadly “electronic sweepstakes device” is interpreted and which businesses get pulled into investigations.
Why Louisiana Is Taking Another Step
Louisiana has been one of the strictest states when it comes to sweepstakes casinos. In 2025, lawmakers passed SB 181, a bill aimed at banning offshore and new sweepstakes casino sites. But Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed it, saying the state already had enough enforcement power and calling the proposal “a solution in search of a problem.”
After that veto, the state stepped up enforcement without passing a new ban. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board sent out more than 40 cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes operators, and public reporting says the list included major brands like VGW and WOW Vegas.
There was also an important legal opinion. In July 2025, Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a written opinion that sweepstakes casino sites offering casino-style gaming are illegal in Louisiana. That opinion helped support later enforcement actions, including tax lawsuits seeking tens of millions of dollars in alleged unpaid taxes, interest, and penalties from certain operators.
So while HB 53 is “new,” it comes after months of Louisiana signaling that it wants these platforms gone—or at least under heavy pressure.
What This Could Mean for Sweepstakes Operators and Players
If HB 53 becomes law, it could change the risk calculation for sweepstakes operators. A normal gambling charge is serious, but a racketeering case can be far more damaging. Racketeering cases can also widen the scope of investigations, because prosecutors can look at the full business network behind a product.
That could matter for vendors and partners. Even if a company is not running the site itself, it may provide services that keep the platform working, like software, marketing, payment tools, or affiliate traffic. A broader enforcement tool may increase the pressure on these supporting companies to avoid Louisiana entirely.
For players, the impact would likely be fewer options. Many sweepstakes casinos already block Louisiana users, and more could follow if the legal risks increase. Players might also see more pop-up warnings, stricter location checks, or faster shutdowns of prize play.
HB 53 is still early in the process, and Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session begins on March 9, 2026. The next key updates to watch are whether the bill gets a hearing, whether lawmakers narrow the language, and whether the committee votes to move it forward.