The mission of the Gaming Division is to serve the State and its client agencies in a manner which creates a superior regulatory atmosphere for licensed gaming and which instills public confidence and trust that gaming activities are conducted honestly and free from criminal and corrupt elements. The Division serves as legal advisor and legal representative to all Louisiana gaming regulatory agencies. Since 1997, the Division has assisted the gaming regulatory agencies in collecting fines and civil penalties through enforcement actions initiated against licensees and permittees, including $18,650,000 in economic sanctions and remedial measures assessed against riverboat licensees.
Licensing and Compliance Section
The Licensing and Compliance Section acts as legal advisor and representative on all licensing matters dealing with the Riverboat and Video Poker Industry, as well as advising on all financial, investigatory and suitability aspects of gaming. This section prepares all administrative actions regarding gaming applicants, licensees and permittees.
Adjudications Section
The Adjudications Section represents the State on all licensing actions and prosecutes all administrative actions before the Hearing Officers and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. This section also assists the Executive Counsel in defending cases before the District and Appellate Courts.
Racetrack Gaming Section
The Racetrack Gaming Section is the legal advisor and representative on all matters dealing with approved slot machine operations at designated Louisiana horse racing facilities and also represents and advises the Louisiana Racing Commission.
New Orleans Gaming Section
The New Orleans Gaming Section is primarily responsible for representing and advising the state on all matters involving the New Orleans land based casino. This section is responsible for monitoring the Amended and Restated Casino Operating Contract and its attendant agreements.
General Gaming Section
The General Gaming Section provides services to three diverse segments of gaming: Indian, Lottery and Charitable. This section acts as legal advisor and representative to the state Indian regulatory agencies as well as the Louisiana Lottery Corporation and the Department of Revenue, Charitable Division.
Hearing Support Unit
The Hearing Support Unit functions as a separate office for the Louisiana Gaming Control Board which serves as the administrative tribunal on contested and disputed gaming regulatory matters.
Executive Counsel
The Executive Counsel advises and represents the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Louisiana Lottery Corporation on all litigation. The Executive Counsel also represents the state on all statutory and constitutional challenges related to the gaming laws.
The Louisiana Legislature, finding that problem gambling “is a serious and widely recognized problem” and recognizing that “gaming entertainment companies must stand up and take responsible actions to address social problems and costs that are created when some individuals have problems handling the product or services they provide”, mandated that the gaming casinos develop uniform compulsive and problem gambling programs. The Division was tasked with assuring that each casino developed a comprehensive plan that met all statutory and regulatory requirements. The final programs were found to be in compliance by the Gaming Control Board on February 17, 2004. The Division will assist the regulatory agencies in monitoring each casino’s compliance with its program in an effort to assure that they are fully implemented.
Supplementing the legislative mandate of the Compulsive and Problem Gambling Programs, Attorney General James D. "Buddy" Caldwell coordinates the multi-agency Gambling Treatment Referral Program, an innovative and cost effective pre-trial diversion program designed to refer first and second non-violent offenders whose crimes are directly related to gambling addiction into treatment. The Gambling Treatment Referral Program is a positive problem resolution for the gambling addict, judiciary, law enforcement, and the family of the gambling addict, as well as his employers and co-workers.
As part of the initial licensing process, each riverboat licensee established voluntary goals for the procurement of goods and services from Louisiana firms and women-owned and minority-owned firms. Additionally, each licensee established voluntary goals in the area of employment of Louisiana residents, women and minorities. The Division is responsible for monitoring these voluntary goals and reporting to the Gaming Control Board on a quarterly basis each licensee’s efforts and results in achieving these goals. In 2003, the Legislature required racetracks which have slot machine operations to develop a good faith plan in the areas of employment and procurement. The Division is currently working with these licensees in developing goals for the plan and will monitor the success in achieving those goals once they are established and reviewed by the Gaming Control Board. A copy of portions of the quarterly compliance reports can be found on their website at http://www.dps.state.la.us/lgcb/.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call the Louisiana Problem Gamblers Help Line: 1-877-770-7867 or go to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Addictive Disorders website at http://www.dhh.state.la.us/offices/?ID=23.