Louisiana Charitable Raffle Bingo Keno Local Licensing Law

S. ) is Louisiana's Charitable Raffles, Bingo and Keno Licensing Law. S. 4:704 inside the Department of Revenue, issues the state license every organization needs before any local body can act. S. 4:706 splits authority two ways: subsection A lets a municipal governing authority decide whether raffles, bingo, and keno are permitted inside city limits, and subsection B gives parish governing authorities the same call for unincorporated areas. S. S. 4:707, and may enforce those local provisions itself. But C(2) caps that power: "No local governing authority shall issue a license to any organization unless that organization has first obtained a license from the office in accordance with this Chapter", the state license always comes first.

C(3) bars any local ordinance that conflicts with Chapter 11, and C(4) adds an Orleans Parish-specific limit tied to the Amended and Renegotiated Casino Operating Contract, policed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Subsection D defines "bingo" to include electronic video bingo, so video bingo terminals fall under the same dual-licensing structure as paper cards. S. 4:721, and can refer suspected Title 14 crimes to State Police for investigation.

R.S. 4:735 splits penalties by severity. Running a game "without a license issued by a parish or municipal governing authority or without a license issued by the office" is a Subsection B major violation: a fine up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, or both. Falsifying an application or gaming records carries the same exposure. Any other Chapter 11 violation is lesser, up to $500 and six months under Subsection C, and the office may also levy a civil fine or suspend the license.