§27.1. Uniform compulsive and problem gambling program

            A. Problem gambling is a serious and widely recognized problem. The gaming industry through the American Gaming Association in the Responsible Gaming Resource Guide has stated that the industry recognizes 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. The industry has also stated that they know that the vast majority of the men and women who are their customers can enjoy their games responsibly, but that they also know the customers expect them to act responsibly toward those who cannot. It is imperative for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the state of Louisiana that all gaming licensees and the casino gaming operator develop and implement comprehensive compulsive and problem gambling programs to be approved by the board.

            B. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board shall adopt rules pursuant to the provisions of this Section for the development of a uniform compulsive and problem gambling program. These rules shall include the rules regarding self-exclusion as provided in Subsection D of this Section.

            C. Within one hundred twenty days from the adoption of the rules provided for in Subsection B of this Section, each holder of a license and operator as defined in R.S. 27:44, 353, and 602 and the casino gaming operator shall submit for approval to the board a comprehensive program that provides policies and procedures that, at a minimum, shall cover the following areas of concern and are designed to:

            (1) Provide procedures designed to prevent employees from willfully permitting a person identified on a self-exclusion list from engaging in gaming activities at the licensed establishment or facility or electronically on a sports wagering platform.

            (2) Provide procedures to offer employee assistance programs or equivalent coverage. The procedures shall be designed to provide confidential assessment and treatment referral for gaming employees and, if covered, their dependents who may have a gambling problem.

            (3) Provide procedures for the development of programs to address issues of underage gambling and unattended minors at the licensed establishment or facility or electronically on a sports wagering platform.

            (4) Provide procedures for the training of all employees that interact with gaming patrons in gaming areas to report suspected problem gamblers to supervisors who shall be trained as provided in this Paragraph. The training shall, at a minimum, consist of information concerning the nature and symptoms of compulsive and problem gambling behavior and assisting patrons in obtaining information about compulsive and problem gambling and available options for seeking assistance with such behavior.

            (5) Provide procedures designed to prevent serving alcohol to intoxicated gaming patrons consistent with the provisions of R.S. 26:931 et seq.

            (6) Provide procedures for removing self-excluded persons from the licensed establishment or facility, including, if necessary, procedures that include obtaining the assistance of the division or local law enforcement.

            (7) Provide procedures preventing any person identified on the self-exclusion list from receiving any advertisement, promotion, or other targeted mailing after ninety days of receiving notice from the board that the person has been placed on the self-exclusion list.

            (8) Provide procedures for the distribution or posting within the gaming establishment or facility and on the sports wagering platform, including all gaming websites and mobile applications, of information that promotes public awareness about problem gambling and provides information on available services and resources to those who have a gambling problem.

            (9) Provide procedures for the distribution of responsible gaming materials to employees.

            (10) Provide procedures for the posting of local curfews or laws and prohibitions, if any, regarding underage gambling and unattended minors.

            (11) Provide procedures to prevent any person placed on the self-exclusion list from having access to credit or from receiving complimentary services, check-cashing services, and other club benefits.

            D.(1) The board shall provide by rule for the establishment of a list of self-excluded persons from gaming activities with a licensee, operator, or casino gaming operator. Any person may request placement on the list of self-excluded persons by acknowledging in a manner to be established by the board that the person wishes to be excluded and by agreeing that, during any period of voluntary exclusion, the person may not collect any winnings or recover any losses resulting from any such gaming activity.

            (2) The rules of the board shall establish procedures for placements on, and removals from, the list of self-excluded persons, provided that notwithstanding any law to the contrary, prior to the removal from such list, the board or a hearing officer shall conduct a hearing not open to the general public at which it shall be established by the person seeking removal that there is no longer a basis to be maintained on the self-exclusion list.

            (3) The rules shall establish procedures for the transmittal of identifying information concerning self-excluded persons to any entity licensed or permitted under the provisions of this Title that is responsible for ascertaining the identity of gaming patrons. The rules shall require all licensees, operators, and the casino gaming operator to establish procedures designed, at a minimum, to remove self-excluded persons from targeted mailings or other forms of advertising or promotions and deny self-excluded persons access to credit, complimentaries, check-cashing privileges, and other club benefits.

            (4) The rules shall provide that notwithstanding the provision of R.S. 27:21 or any other law to the contrary, the board's list of self-excluded persons shall not be open to public inspection. The board, division, any licensee, permittee, or casino gaming operator and any employee or agent thereof shall not be liable to any self-excluded person or to any other party in any judicial proceeding for any monetary damages or other remedy which may arise as a result of disclosure or publication in any manner other than a willfully unlawful disclosure to a third party that is not an employee, agent, affiliated company, patron identification service entity, or employee or agent of the board or division, of the identity of any self-excluded person.

            E. A person who is prohibited from participating in any gaming activity by any provision of this Title or pursuant to any self-exclusion rules adopted by the board shall not collect in any manner or proceeding any winnings or recover any losses arising as a result of any prohibited gaming activity.

            F. In any proceeding brought against any licensee, permittee, or casino gaming operator and any employee thereof for a willful violation of the self-exclusion rules of the board, the board may order the forfeiture of any money or thing of value obtained by the licensee, permittee, or the casino gaming operator from any self-excluded person. Any money or thing of value so forfeited shall be deposited into the Compulsive and Problem Gaming Fund established pursuant to R.S. 28:842.

            G. Nothing herein shall prevent any licensee, permittee, or casino gaming operator from adopting and maintaining a self-exclusion policy that may impose different or greater standards so long as such policy is in addition to the boards' self-exclusion rules and any actions taken pursuant to such a policy of a licensee, permittee, or casino gaming operator that has been approved by the board shall be subject to the limitations of liability set forth in this Section and R.S. 27:27.4.

            H. The provisions of this Section shall not require the board, division, licensees, permittees, the casino gaming operator, and the employees thereof to identify problem or compulsive gamblers which is an activity that requires medical and clinical expertise.

            I. Nothing herein shall be construed to relieve the licensee from the requirements of posting of signs to inform customers of the toll-free telephone number available to provide information and referral services regarding compulsive or problem gambling as required by R.S. 27:58(10), 249(B), 320, or 377.

            J.(1) The board may impose sanctions on a licensee, permittee, or casino gaming operator under this Title, if the licensee, permittee, or casino gaming operator willfully fails to exclude a person placed on the self-exclusion list from the licensed gaming establishment or facility or sports wagering platform or from participating in gaming activity.

            (2) The board may seek revocation or suspension of a license, permit, or casino operating contract if the licensee, permittee, or casino gaming operator engages in a pattern of willful failure to exclude persons placed on the self-exclusion list from the licensed gaming establishment or facility or sports wagering platform or from participating in gaming activity.

            K. All rules shall be adopted pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act and R.S. 27:15(B)(8) and shall be subject to legislative oversight in accordance with R.S. 49:966. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the legislative oversight committees shall have the power to make substantive changes to the rules in addition to approving or rejecting the rules.

            L. A licensee, operator, or casino gaming operator conducting gaming pursuant to the provisions of this Title can demonstrate to the board compliance with the education and training provisions of this Section by providing proof of attendance by all employees when they are hired and annually thereafter at one of the following education programs:

            (1) Training programs conducted by the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling.

            (2) Any other course on problem and compulsive gaming training approved by the board.

            M. Except for the provisions of Subsection I of this Section, the provisions of this Section shall not apply to persons licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law as provided in Chapter 8 of this Title unless also licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana Sports Wagering Act as provided in Chapter 10 of this Title.

            N. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section to the contrary, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board shall adopt rules to provide for a uniform compulsive and problem gambling program for persons licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law as provided in Chapter 8 of this Title. All rules shall be adopted pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act and R.S. 27:15(B)(8) and shall be subject to legislative oversight and review in accordance with R.S. 49:966. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the legislative oversight committees shall have the power to make substantive changes to the rules in addition to approving or rejecting the rules.

            Acts 2001, No. 1124, §1; Acts 2021, No. 440, §1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 266, §1, eff. July 1, 2022.