The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has announced that it has issued cease-and-desist letters to 40 illegal gambling operators, including offshore betting sites and sweepstakes casinos.
Last week, Louisiana’s Governor Jeff Landry vetoed a bill banning sweepstakes casinos, but rather than paving the way for the sites to continue operating, Landry commented that the Board already had sufficient power to target illegal gambling operators.
Louisiana Issues 40 Cease-And-Desist Letters To Illegal Gambling SitesThe sites issued with the cease-and-desist letters have not been named, but the action serves as proof of what Landry had stated when vetoing the bill. Commenting on sites that operate outside of state gambling laws, Landry noted, “The Board, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, and the LSP Gaming Division are all monitoring this type of activity and will continue to issue additional cease-and-desist letters to similar illegal offshore wagering and illegal online sweepstakes companies that intentionally design their business models to circumvent Louisiana gaming laws and regulations.”
Sweepstakes casino celebrations short-lived
After Landry had vetoed the bill, the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), a lobby group for sweepstakes casinos formed by leading operator VGW, celebrated a victory. A statement read, “On behalf of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) and the Louisiana residents who enjoy free-to-play online social games, we sincerely appreciate the opportunity to continue the conversation about online social gaming in Louisiana.
“Gov. Landry’s veto gives all stakeholders an opportunity to pursue a sensible solution to allow Louisiana residents to continue playing online social games, explore revenue streams for the state and create a licensing and regulatory environment which applies the highest standards of player protections and responsible social gaming.”
Some of the SGLA’s members may well be among those issued with the orders by the Board. VGW was issued cease-and-desist letters in Delaware and Connecticut and subsequently withdrew operations from the states. A bill in New York that has advanced through the Senate and is now awaiting approval in the Assembly, also forced the company to exit the Empire State.
Louisiana sends a clear message
Landry’s veto of the sweepstakes ban potentially confused the legal status of sweepstakes in the state, but the latest action looks to confirm Louisiana’s stance on unregulated online casinos.
Louisiana Issues 40 Cease-And-Desist Letters To Illegal Gambling Sites Louisiana Issues 40 Cease-And-Desist Letters To Illegal Gambling Sites
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.
