Change is finally coming to the state of Louisiana as lawmakers have reportedly begun preparing to rewrite the state’s antiquated casino law by March this year. Associated Press has reported that Republican Senator Ronnie Johns is anticipated to sponsor a bill that will set off a lot of conversation pertaining to Louisiana’s riverboat casino laws and make way for the overhaul of the over 20-year-old-law. Johns mentioned that they had begun the discussions with something they considered to be very manageable and was likely to be passed.
27 years ago, in 1991, legislators in Louisiana enacted a law that saw to the opening of 15 riverboat casinos in the state. Of the $900 million in revenue that was collected from the state’s gambling industry, at least $400 million originated from the riverboat casinos. The law has however been amended a few times with the most recent being in 2001 when in exchange for having their gambling facilities permanently docked the riverboats agreed to pay higher taxes. Senator Johns, however, pointed out that many of that law’s provisions no longer apply and that Louisiana is one of the last remaining states where casinos are still required to remain in the water.
If the legislation falls in the favor of the casinos, then Louisiana riverboat casinos will finally be able to establish larger gaming spaces after moving onto land. The legislators are also looking into doing away with the promotional money that casinos send out to lure to attract customers to their land-based gaming establishments.
Even legislators who have always had a reputation for being against gambling approved the proposals that sort to change the state’s existing casino laws. According to the leader of the task force, Ronald Jones, who was also the chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the changes will ensure that the state’s casino business stay competitive.
“I think we’ve started a discussion that’s been years in the making. We can make some meaningful changes. We can promote a reinvestment in this economy in Louisiana. I think we can create some jobs,” Jones said in the news report.
