Louisiana Sweepstakes Laws: A Veto, Then Racketeering
Louisiana sweepstakes laws took the strange route: the governor vetoed the ban, declared the games already illegal in the same breath, and the state then pursued operators under racketeering law.
| Legislation | 2025 ban bill passed unanimously; vetoed by Gov. Jeff Landry, June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Veto rationale | Landry stated the games were already illegal and the Gaming Control Board did not need new powers |
| Regulator action | Louisiana Gaming Control Board: 40+ cease-and-desist orders |
| Civil action | $44 million suit against VGW and WOW Vegas |
| Criminal exposure | HB 53 — racketeering; reported exposure up to 50 years and $1 million |
| Status | Enforcement state, aggressive |
The veto that was not a reprieve
Operators who read the June 2025 veto as good news misread it completely. Landry vetoed the ban because he considered it redundant — his position was that the games were already unlawful and that the Gaming Control Board had every tool it required. The board then proved him right, issuing more than forty cease-and-desist orders and suing VGW and WOW Vegas for $44 million.
Racketeering
HB 53 brings sweepstakes operations within reach of Louisiana’s racketeering provisions. Reported exposure runs to fifty years and a million dollars. Whether that construction survives a contested prosecution is untested, and no operator has volunteered to find out.
Louisiana is where a legislative defeat produced a harsher outcome than the bill would have.
Sources
- Verified Legal Sports Report, “Louisiana Gov. Landry Vetoes Sweepstakes Casino Ban” (13 June 2025).
- Verified Louisiana Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist campaign, 40+ orders; LGCB Chair Christopher Hebert statement (2025).
- Probable $44 million action against VGW and WOW Vegas; HB 53 racketeering exposure reported at up to 50 years / $1 million — confirm against filed pleadings before relying on the figures.