Louisiana HB 53 Heads to Senate With RICO Penalties Casino By lines April 29, 2026 Louisiana HB 53 cleared the Senate Judiciary C committee on April 14, 2026. The bill would treat sweepstakes operators as racketeers under state law. Penalties stretch to 50 years in prison and $1 million fines. What HB 53 Means for Sweepstakes Operators HB 53 amends Louisiana’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute. Rep. Bryan Fontenot sponsored the measure in the Louisiana House. The House passed HB 53 by an 86-11 vote on March 30, 2026. Senate Committee on Judiciary C cleared the bill on April 14, 2026. The legislation lists operating electronic sweepstakes gaming as a predicate racketeering act. Louisiana RICO penalties reach $1 million per violation. Prison terms can reach 50 years per count. Operators face civil forfeiture of business assets if convicted. HB 53 moves alongside Louisiana HB 883. HB 883 passed the Louisiana House 99-0 on April 14, 2026. HB 883 bans dual-currency sweepstakes platforms outright. Together the bills create a stacked enforcement regime against sweeps operators in Louisiana. Governor Jeff Landry vetoed Louisiana SB 181 in 2025. SB 181 would have banned sweepstakes casinos last year. Lawmakers redrafted the policy as two separate vehicles in 2026. The Senate floor vote on HB 53 sits as the next step. Related Casino Reviews Louisiana HB 883 Sweepstakes Ban Passes House 99-0 Tennessee Bans Sweeps Casinos as Lee Signs SB 2136 Iowa House Passes Sweepstakes Casino Enforcement Bill Source: Sweepsy.
