§7003.  Licensing requirements

A.  Every person who manufactures, sells, distributes, transports, or repairs any gaming equipment within this state for use outside this state or who proposes to engage in the manufacture, sale, distribution, transportation, or repair of any gaming equipment within this state for use outside this state, shall obtain a license issued by the department in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by it.

B.  The following persons shall not be required to obtain a license and may lawfully possess gaming equipment under the provisions of this Chapter:

(1)  An agent, or an employee thereof, of any registered manufacturer, seller, distributor, transporter, or repairman of any gaming equipment if such agent is acting in the usual course of his business or employment.

(2)  A common or contract carrier or warehouseman, or an employee thereof, whose possession of any gaming equipment is in the usual course of his business or employment.

(3)  A person using the gaming equipment in a lawful manner as provided by law.

C.  The department shall not waive the requirement for licensing of any manufacturer, seller, distributor, transporter, or repairman.

D.  A separate license shall be required at each principal place of business or professional practice where the applicant manufactures, sells, distributes, transports, or repairs gaming equipment.

E.  The department may inspect the establishment of a licensee or applicant for licensing in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by it.

F.(1)  Any licensee shall submit to the department data on the use and transactions involving the sale or distribution of gaming equipment.

(2)  The department may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Subsection, including but not limited to the scope of such data, the form in which it is to be submitted, and the time requirements for such submission.

G.  The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, may issue a temporary special letter of authorization for the display of gaming equipment by gaming manufacturers and distributors at trade shows or conventions having a legal capacity to hold two hundred fifty or more persons.  The gaming equipment shall be maintained in display only mode and shall be used only for display purposes.  No gaming equipment shall be capable of accepting any token, coin, or currency or dispensing any currency, coin, token, premium, merchandise, or anything of value or anything which is redeemable for anything of value.  The term of the special letter of authorization provided for by this Subsection shall not exceed fifteen consecutive days.

H.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, may issue a temporary special letter of authorization for the conducting of raffles or drawings at trade shows or conventions having a legal capacity to hold two hundred fifty or more persons.  The term of the special letter of authorization provided for by this Subsection shall not exceed fifteen consecutive days.

I.  No special letter of authorization shall be issued under the provisions of Subsection H of this Section unless:

(1)  The applicant is an agent or representative of an organization holding a convention, trade show, or exposition in a hotel or convention facility or convention center located within Louisiana and at least two hundred people are registered to participate in that convention.

(2)  Cash prizes are not to be awarded and merchandise prizes are not to be repurchased.

J.  The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, shall adopt and submit to the Louisiana Register rules necessary to implement the provisions of Subsections G through I of this Section not later than September 15, 1999.  Those rules shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Acts 1987, No. 443, §1; Acts 1999, No. 321, §1.