§15. Board's authority; responsibilities

            A. The board shall regulate all gaming activities and operations in the state as more specifically provided in this Title and other applicable laws.

            B. The board shall:

            (1) Have all regulatory authority, control, and jurisdiction, including investigation, licensing, and enforcement, and all power incidental or necessary to such regulatory authority, control, and jurisdiction over all aspects of gaming activities and operations as authorized pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act, the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law, the Louisiana Fantasy Sports Contests Act, and the Louisiana Sports Wagering Act, except as otherwise specified in this Title. Further, the board shall have all regulatory, enforcement, and supervisory authority which exists in the state as to gaming on Indian lands as provided in the provisions of Act No. 888 of the 1990 Regular Session of the Legislature and Act No. 817 of the 1993 Regular Session of the Legislature.

            (2)(a) Exercise its authority sitting as a whole or in panels of three, as provided for by rules adopted by the board.

            (b) Meet not less often than twelve times a year and, as nearly as practicable, on the same day of every month in accordance with the requirements of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.

            (c) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not prohibit hearing officers from rendering any decision provided for under R.S. 27:25.

            (3)(a) Establish, and from time to time amend, a plan of organization to conduct the business of regulating and controlling the gaming operations and activities under its jurisdiction efficiently, efficaciously, and thoroughly.

            (b) The plan of organization shall provide for the capacity to:

            (i) Administer the granting of contracts, licenses, and permits.

            (ii) Analyze and review investigative and audit reports and findings.

            (iii) Provide for enforcement of board regulations as is necessary to the efficient, efficacious, and thorough regulation and control of the gaming operations and activities under its jurisdiction.

            (c)(i) Establish, and update at least quarterly, a central registry of all gaming operators licensed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4 of Title 4 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, the Charitable Raffles, Bingo and Keno Licensing Law, the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act, and the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law.

            (ii) Such registry shall be composed of the name and address of each person who is licensed or who holds an operating contract pursuant to such laws, and the address of any location in which any authorized game, gaming or wagering activity, or game of chance is conducted pursuant to such laws. Included in such registry shall be the name and address of each person who owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than five percent ownership interest, income interest, or profit interest in any such establishment.

            (4) Incur such expenses and obligations, within the limits of the money available to the board, as are necessary to the efficient, efficacious, and thorough conduct of the business of regulating and controlling the gaming operations and activities under its jurisdiction and establish and maintain an accounting system which complies with law. Expenses attributable to individual members shall be incurred in compliance with R.S. 27:14 and rules adopted pursuant thereto.

            (5) Organize and conduct hearings, as provided in R.S. 27:25.

            (6) Approve, prior to encumbrance, all financial transactions that exceed twenty thousand dollars.

            (7) Approve, prior to its presentation to the legislature and again after appropriation prior to allocation, the budget for the board.

            (8)(a) Adopt such policies and rules as are necessary to the efficient, efficacious, and thorough conduct of the business of regulating and controlling the gaming operations and activities under its jurisdiction and as are required by this Title. Rules shall be adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act and, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, rules of the board shall be subject to legislative oversight and review. The legislative review of the rules shall be conducted by the legislative committees with jurisdiction over gaming and criminal matters as provided by legislative rule.

            (b) Promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as necessary for the administration and enforcement of R.S. 27:44(4) and (14), 67, 94, 252, and 394.

            (c) Adopt, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act and as specifically provided for in R.S. 27:603, all rules necessary to implement, administer, and regulate sports wagering as authorized by Chapter 10 of this Title.

            (9)(a) Respond to the governor and the legislature or any committee thereof.

            (b) Make an annual report to the legislature regarding the state of the board's operations and of the gaming operations and activities it regulates. Such report shall include at a minimum:

            (i) Recommendations for all needed changes in the law regarding the board or any regulated activity.

            (ii) A complete report on the receipt and expenditure of all funds received by the board.

            (iii) The financial and economic development impact of each regulated activity on the state and on local communities.

            (iv) The competitive status of the state vis a vis other states in which gaming is conducted.

            (10) Arrange for a location in the parish of East Baton Rouge for meetings which has adequate space to accommodate the public.

            C. The board may:

            (1) Establish advisory councils from among Louisiana residents to provide information and guidance regarding needs and concerns of particular localities. Such councils may be established at such times, for such duration, and under such circumstances, including compensation, as the board deems appropriate.

            (2) Veto, by not less than five votes, any action taken by the chairman.

            (3) Enter into contracts for professional services in accordance with Chapter 17, the Louisiana Procurement Code, of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

            (4) Require such assistance from, and pursuant to a negotiated interagency agreement with, the Department of Revenue, as the board determines is appropriate, necessary, and not prohibited by law.

            (5) Authorize the chairman by rule to exercise such powers of the board as deemed appropriate and as provided in this Title subject to veto as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.

            D. In addition to or in lieu of the revocation or suspension of a license or permit issued pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act, the Pari-mutuel Live Racing Facility Economic Redevelopment and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Sports Wagering Act, and this Chapter, the board may impose upon the casino gaming operator or the holder of a license as defined in R.S. 27:44, 353, or 602, or a permittee a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars for each violation of any provision of the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act, the Louisiana Pari-mutuel Live Racing Facility Economic Redevelopment and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Sports Wagering Act, this Chapter, or any rule or regulation of the board. Payment of the civil penalty shall be a requirement for the retention of any permit, certificate, or license held by the entity which violated any such provisions. If the licensee contests the imposition of the civil penalty, the penalty shall be imposed only after an adjudicatory hearing is conducted pursuant to R.S. 27:25 and a basis for imposition of the penalty is determined to exist.

            E. The board by rule may adopt a schedule of penalties for violations of the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Corporation Act, the Pari-mutuel Live Racing Facility Economic Redevelopment and Gaming Control Act, the Louisiana Sports Wagering Act, this Chapter, or any rule or regulation of the board. Any such rules shall be adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act and as otherwise provided in this Chapter.

            F. In addition to or in lieu of the revocation or suspension of a license or permit issued pursuant to the provisions of the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law, the board or division, as may be applicable, may impose a civil penalty not to exceed fifty thousand dollars for each violation of any provision of the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law, Chapter 2 of this Title, or any rule of the board. Payment of the civil penalty shall be a requirement for the retention of any permit or license held by the entity which violated any such provisions. If the licensee or permittee contests the imposition of the civil penalty, the penalty shall be imposed only after an adjudicatory hearing is conducted pursuant to R.S. 27:25 and a basis for imposition of the penalty is determined to exist.

            G. The board by rule shall adopt a schedule of penalties for violations of the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law, Chapter 2 of this Title, or any rule of the board. Any such rules shall be adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act and as otherwise provided in this Chapter.

            H. The board shall annually report to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives on the impact that developments in technology are having on gaming and the gaming industry in Louisiana. The report shall specifically address awareness and growth, to the extent known, of any unregulated gaming such as internet or online games, address internet gaming in jurisdictions in which it is authorized and any enforcement issues the jurisdiction is experiencing with age verification and geo-location, and identify issues for legislative concern and make recommendations regarding such concerns.

            Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 7, §1, eff. May 1, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 658, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1051, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1076, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 1192, §2; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 114, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1155, §1; Acts 2005, No. 61, §1; Acts 2014, No. 130, §1; Acts 2015, No. 186, §2; Acts 2018, No. 322, §2, See Act; Acts 2018, No. 469, §1, eff. May 23, 2018; Acts 2021, No. 80, §3, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2021, No. 440, §1, eff. July 1, 2021.