GAMING: Provides relative to charitable bingo and the issuance of special licenses

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Beau Beaullieu

HB 337 allows charitably licensed groups to hold up to four special bingo sessions per year (instead of two) while keeping a $25,000 daily prize cap.

Effective date: 06/08/2026.

Purpose and Intent

HB 337 seeks to modify how many charitable bingo sessions a licensed organization may conduct under a special license. Specifically, it increases the allowable number of annual special bingo sessions from two to four. The bill is aimed at expanding opportunities for charitable bingo events while maintaining existing caps on prizes.

Key Provisions

Amends and reenacts R.S. 4:710(A) to change the special license framework for charitable bingo.

Increased cap: A special license may authorize up to four bingo sessions per calendar year (instead of the current limit of two sessions per year).

Prize limit: For each calendar day covered by a special license, the total amount of prizes (cash or other things of value) may not exceed $25,000.

Applicability: All other provisions of the charitable gaming law remain in force; only the limit on the number of bingo sessions under a special license is changed.

Effective date: The act becomes effective upon the governor’s signature or, if not signed, upon expiration of the gubernatorial action period. If vetoed and later approved by the legislature, it becomes effective the day after approval.

Who/What Would Be Affected

Eligible organizations currently holding or seeking a special bingo license from the Office of Charitable Gaming in Louisiana.

Beneficiaries of charitable bingo events (e.g., organizations funding charitable activities, community groups, or approved nonprofits) that rely on bingo-based fundraising.

The Office of Charitable Gaming, which administers special licenses and enforces prize limits.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

The bill follows the standard legislative process, with committee review and full chamber votes. It has already progressed through readings and committee stages in the 2026 session.

If enacted, the change would become effective immediately upon signature or other constitutional timing, affecting licenses issued after the act’s effective date.

Practical Impact

Increased fundraising flexibility: Organizations can host more bingo sessions annually, potentially increasing fundraising opportunities within the same prize cap structure.

Administrative considerations: License issuances, scheduling, and compliance processes will need to accommodate four sessions per year rather than two, including record-keeping for each session’s prizes.

Overall, HB 337 is a targeted adjustment to charitable gaming law to broaden the permissible frequency of special bingo events while preserving the established prize cap per day.

Bill