§19.1. Attorney general; illegal online gambling; cease and desist notice
A. The attorney general, or the chairman of the board, acting in the board's discretion, may send a written cease and desist notice to any person who operates, conducts, or promotes gambling by computer within this state in violation of R.S. 14:90.3, including platform providers as defined in R.S. 14:90.3 who allow the exchange of information regarding gambling by computer or merchant payment processors as defined in R.S. 14:90.3 who allow the exchange of currency in furtherance of gambling by computer. The cease and desist notice shall do all of the following:
(1) State, generally, the illegal activity being conducted.
(2) State that the person has no more than ten days after the date notice is received to cease the illegal activity.
(3) State that failure to comply with Paragraph (2) of this Subsection may result in a fine as described in R.S. 14:90.3.
B. If the chairman of the board issues a cease and desist notice pursuant to this Section, the chairman shall promptly forward a copy of the notice to the attorney general. The attorney general shall maintain a depository to collect, maintain, and retain each cease and desist notice sent in accordance with this Section. The attorney general shall maintain a listing, which will be publicly available on the website of the attorney general, identifying the name of each gambling by computer operator and associated online gambling website URL address, platform provider, or merchant payment processor that has been issued a cease and desist notice pursuant to this Section by either the board or the attorney general. Noncompliance with this Subsection is not a defense to any action commenced pursuant to R.S. 14:90.3.
C. The manner of service of a cease and desist notice issued in accordance with this Section shall be made in compliance with Chapters 2 and 3 of Title II of Book II of the Code of Civil Procedure.
D. A cease and desist notice served in accordance with this Section is admissible in any proceeding pursuant to R.S. 14:90.3 and constitutes prima facie evidence that the person has knowledge that gambling by computer or the promoting or marketing of gambling by computer was occurring on the internet site of the gambling by computer operator, that the platform provider was allowing the exchange of information, or that the merchant payment processor was allowing the exchange of currency in furtherance of gambling by computer.
E. A person outside of this state who owns, maintains, or operates an internet website that transmits information through or with a platform provider and who knows or should know that the information is broadcast within this state submits to the jurisdiction of this state for enforcement pursuant to this Section.
F. Prior to sending a cease and desist notice, the attorney general may provide reasonable notice to the board to enable the board to determine if it will join in the notice.
G. If the attorney general has reason to believe that a person is offering, operating, conducting, promoting, supporting, or acting in furtherance of gambling by computer or taking any other action in violation of R.S. 14:90.3, he may bring an action in the name of the state to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction the conduct giving rise to such violation.
H. The attorney general may exercise his authority in furtherance of the investigation and enforcement of this Section, including, without limitation, to issue subpoenas.
I. The attorney general may utilize the division to conduct investigations and enforce the provisions of this Section and the provisions of R.S. 14:90.3.
J. The attorney general may enter into agreements with the division, the board, or any other federal or state law enforcement agency for the exchange and release of investigatory and other information.
K. The attorney general and the court shall construe liberally this Title and R.S. 14:90 et seq., relating to gambling and betting, to prevent prohibited activities.
Acts 2026, No. 182, §2.