Louisiana lawmakers are preparing a sharper tool for the state’s sweepstakes crackdown. A newly filed bill would not rewrite the gambling rules. Instead, it would let prosecutors treat certain gambling offenses as racketeering “predicate” crimes, raising the stakes for operators and the vendors that help them run.
The bill lands after months of aggressive enforcement and public legal positioning. The message from state officials has shifted from “is this legal?” to “how do we sustain enforcement?”
What HB 53 changes for prosecutors
House Bill 53, filed by Rep. Bryan Fontenot, would add a set of gambling-related offenses to Louisiana’s racketeering statute by expanding the definition of racketeering activity in R.S. 15:1352.
That matters because racketeering cases are built around a pattern tied to an “enterprise,” rather than one isolated count. When conduct qualifies, Louisiana law also ties racketeering violations to civil forfeiture exposure for property connected to the racketeering conduct.
Why sweepstakes is back on the agenda after last year’s veto
In June 2025, Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill aimed at online sweepstakes-style gambling, arguing Louisiana already had enforcement authority and did not need a redundant new crime.
After that, enforcement accelerated. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board said it issued more than 40 cease-and-desist letters to offshore wagering platforms and online sweepstakes operators, alongside other actions targeting illegal online gambling.
The real pressure point is partner risk and payment support
If HB 53 advances, the practical impact may be felt beyond the platforms themselves. Sweepstakes operations rely on processors, marketing partners, platform vendors, and other intermediaries. A racketeering framework can increase the perceived risk of being part of a broader “enterprise” case.
Timing is also clear. Louisiana’s 2026 regular session convenes March 9, 2026, putting an early clock on committee movement and whether lawmakers want enforcement tools ready for the next wave of cases.
