SB 325: GAMING: Excludes certain persons from participating in sports wagering. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note) - Louisiana

Senate Floor Bureau Note, #1487, Reese, Adopted → SB325 Act 491 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into an Act (Act No. 491) for the 2026 Regular Session, converting draft floor amendments into permanent law. The core policy changes establish a comprehensive list of excluded persons for Louisiana sports wagering, specifically adding protections for individuals who threaten violence against event participants and those whose presence threatens state interests. The final text also codifies enforcement mechanisms, including the authority to fine or imprison excluded individuals who enter gaming establishments and sanctions against casinos that fail to remove banned persons.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include retail sports books and mobile wagering operations, whereas previous drafts focused more narrowly on general gaming establishments.

SCOPE

Added specific provisions to exclude persons who threaten violence or harm against anyone involved in a sporting event.

Added criteria to exclude persons whose presence is determined to threaten the interests of the state or the integrity of sports wagering regulation.

ENFORCEMENT

Established penalties for excluded individuals, including up to six months in jail or a $500 fine for entering a gaming establishment without board approval.

Authorized the Gaming Control Board to impose sanctions or revoke licenses against casinos that willfully fail to exclude banned persons.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that the board and division must serve formal notice to individuals when their names are added to the exclusion list.

TECHNICAL

Converted draft floor amendment language into the formal text of an Enrolled Act.

SB325 Original → Senate Floor Bureau Note, #1487, Reese, Adopted · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify the legal grounds for removing a person from the sports wagering exclusion list. The change replaces specific references to individual exclusion criteria (Paragraphs A, B, and C) with a broader reference to the entire 'Subsection A,' ensuring the removal process covers all potential reasons for exclusion rather than just the first few.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the petition process for removing a name from the exclusion list to require proof that the person does not meet any criteria listed in Subsection A, instead of limiting the proof to only the first three specific categories.

SB325 Enrolled → SB325 Original · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted from an 'Enrolled' version to an 'Original' version, primarily changing the header information and page numbering. The substantive legal language regarding excluded persons and enforcement penalties remains identical, with no changes to policy, scope, or requirements.

TECHNICAL

The document header was updated to reflect the 'Original' version of the bill (SLS 26RS-587) instead of the 'Enrolled' version, and page numbering was reorganized to match the original submission format.

SB325 Reengrossed → SB325 Enrolled · 4 edits · May 25, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, changing the header from 'Reengrossed' to 'Enrolled' and removing the original bill title summary. Substantively, the law now explicitly prohibits excluding individuals based on their skill level in gaming and adds specific categories of people who can be banned, such as those suspected of cheating or those with pending charges related to gaming integrity. It also clarifies that exclusions apply to both physical retail sports books and mobile wagering operations.

Scope change

The scope of excluded persons was expanded to include specific threats to gaming integrity and mobile wagering participants, while a new exemption was added to prevent discrimination based on a person's skill level.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a prohibition against excluding individuals solely based on their skill level in gaming.

Added specific categories for exclusion, including persons suspected of cheating and those with pending charges related to gaming integrity.

SCOPE

Extended exclusion rules to explicitly cover mobile wagering operations in addition to physical retail sports books.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document status from 'Reengrossed' to 'Enrolled', indicating the final version ready for signature.

SB325 Engrossed → SB325 Reengrossed · 3 edits · May 19, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to update the document title from 'Engrossed' to 'Reengrossed' and to clarify the legal burden of proof for exclusion petitions. The most significant substantive change modifies the criteria for proving eligibility to be excluded from a retail sports book, shifting the requirement from matching specific lettered paragraphs to meeting the general criteria of Subsection A. Minor formatting adjustments were also made to improve the readability of the exclusion list and hearing procedures.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on regulating retail sports books and exclusion lists, but the specific legal test for determining who must be excluded has been clarified and slightly broadened by referencing the entire subsection rather than specific sub-points.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the burden of proof for exclusion petitions from proving a person does not meet specific paragraphs (A)(1), (2), or (3) to proving they do not meet the general criteria of Subsection A.

TECHNICAL

Updated the document header and footer text to reflect that this is the 'Reengrossed' version of the bill.

Adjusted line breaks and spacing in the exclusion criteria and hearing procedures to improve text alignment.

GAMING: Excludes certain persons from participating in sports wagering. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors