§724. Use of electronic or video bingo games

            A. Electronic or video machines, hereafter termed "electronic bingo machines", for public playing of bingo may be made available at any location licensed under this Chapter for charitable bingo, provided that all requirements of this Chapter not in conflict with the provisions of this Section are met.

            B. Any such electronic bingo machine shall be subject to the following requirements and restrictions concerning its operation and use:

            (1) The cost of each game play shall be not less than twenty-five cents nor more than four dollars.

            (2) Payout shall be not less than eighty percent and not more than ninety-four percent of the total amount wagered.

            (3) The maximum prize awarded shall be not more than one thousand dollars.

            (4) A machine shall dispense no cash, only tickets verifiable as valid indicating the prize amount.

            (5) A machine shall play and display only the game of bingo as described in R.S. 4:707(A)(2), except that a random number generator in the machine shall replace the drawing of numbered objects from a receptacle, and may play "cover-all bingo" in which all numbers of the card must be covered. An electronic video bingo machine shall not contain entertainment display features simulating slot reels or card games.

            (6) A machine shall allow the player a choice of cards on which to play and must show a "BINGO" at the end of play.

            (7) A machine shall allow only a linear-based payout in which the amount of the payout follows a straight line progression in direct proportion to the amount wagered.

            (8) A machine shall provide for an electronic readout giving, at a minimum, a summary of total wagers, total plays, total payout, and current prize allotment since the last date of summary or the last date of reset of the machine.

            (9) A machine shall have a mechanism that accepts any denomination of cash in the form of bills or tickets verifiable as valid indicating the ticket value.

            (10) No person under the age of eighteen shall assist in the holding, operation, or conducting of electronic or video bingo games.

            C. An electronic bingo machine may be leased by any holder of a bingo license issued pursuant to this Chapter. However, in no case shall any lease agreement entered into authorize the lessor to receive a percentage of the receipts from the machine.

            D. Only cash prizes may be awarded winners of games on an electronic bingo machine.

            E. At least forty-five percent of the net win from the machine must be paid to the licensee owning or leasing it.

            F. The office may adopt, pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 4:705(10)(b), additional rules and regulations governing the use of electronic bingo machines and may establish a list of manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and lessors authorized to provide electronic bingo machines or a list of acceptable models of the machines, or acceptable serial numbers on such models or manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, or lessors.

            G. The office may assess whatever fees may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Section and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Subsection F.

            H. Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit a distributor of electronic bingo machines from having a representative present during the operation of their machines.

            I. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to restrict the authority of local governments to restrict or prohibit the conducting of electronic video bingo.

            J.(1) Any license or permit that was issued to any location for the use of electronic bingo machines on or before June 30, 2022, is a bona fide and valid license and permit under Louisiana law.

            (2) Any license or permit that was issued to any distributor for the use of electronic video bingo machines on or before June 30, 2022, is a bona fide and valid license and permit under Louisiana law.

            (3) The office shall not issue any license or permit to any location or to any distributor for use of electronic bingo machines after June 30, 2022.

            K. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, any electronic video bingo machine authorized pursuant to Subsection J of this Section which is destroyed or rendered inoperable in any manner may be replaced by an electronic video bingo machine of a similar make and model which is not in compliance with the provisions of R.S. 4:724(B)(5) even if such replacement electronic video bingo machine was purchased after August 15, 2008.

            L. If any location where electronic or video bingo machines are validly licensed or permitted on or before June 30, 2022, to operate is damaged or destroyed due to an occurrence that is an act of God, natural disaster, force majeure, catastrophic event, action by a governmental body, or a similar occurrence over which the licensee or permittee has no reasonable control, the office may allow electronic or video bingo machines to operate at the same physical location.

            M.(1) A location that has been licensed to conduct electronic video bingo by the office on or before June 30, 2022, may be sold or transferred to a new owner if the new owner is found suitable to hold a charitable gaming license by the office pursuant to this Chapter.

            (2) Electronic video bingo machines licensed by the office on or before June 30, 2022, may be sold or transferred to a new owner if the new owner is found suitable to hold a charitable gaming license by the office pursuant to this Chapter.

            N.(1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if the office is authorized by law to issue any new license or permit, the office shall not issue any new license or permit after June 30, 2022, that would allow any electronic or video bingo machine to be placed within one mile from any property on the National Register of Historic Places, any public playground, any residential property, or any building used primarily as a church, synagogue, public library, or school. The measurement of the distance shall be a straight line from the nearest point of the intended location for the electronic video bingo machine for which any license or permit is sought to the nearest point of the property on the National Register of Historic Places, the public playground, the residential property, or the building used primarily as a church, synagogue, public library, or school.

            (2) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to either of the following:

            (a) Any location that is damaged or destroyed due to an act of God, natural disaster, force majeure, catastrophic event, action by a governmental body, or a similar occurrence over which the licensee or permittee has no control.

            (b) Any location licensed to conduct electronic video bingo on or before June 30, 2022.

            (3) For purposes of this Subsection, "residential property" means any property that is wholly or partly used for or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants and that includes one or more rooms, including a bathroom and complete kitchen facilities. "Residential property" shall include a mobile home or manufactured housing, provided that the mobile home or manufactured housing has been in its present location for at least sixty days. "Residential property" shall not include any hotel or motel.

            Acts 1999, No. 568, §3, eff. June 30, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 602, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 614, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 373, §1; Acts 2008, No. 630, §1, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2022, No. 523, §1; Acts 2023, No. 285, §1, eff. July 1, 2023.