At a recent meeting of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, chairman Ronnie Jones announced the Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Task Force had finished its work. Jones, who also chairs the Gaming Control Board, said the group would recommend that the Louisiana legislature allow riverboat casinos to place slot machines on land up to 1,200 feet from the shore to increase revenue and help plug the state’s $1 billion budget gap, and to compete with Mississippi casinos. Task force member state Senator Ronnie Johns will be the primary sponsor of the legislation authorizing the changes.
Jones added the task force limits its recommendations to riverboat gambling, but he expects sports betting and other legislation also to be introduced.
With 15 riverboat casinos plus land-based Harrah’s New Orleans, the gaming industry is the fourth largest portion of the state’s budget, generating $3-$4 billion in annual tax revenue. Riverboat casino profits are taxed at 21 percent, while casinos in Mississippi are taxed at 8 percent.
Mississippi allows riverboats to conduct gaming within 800 feet of the coast. But by permitting Louisiana casinos to conduct gaming within 1,200 feet, the state’s casinos could add more slots and table games on land compared to Mississippi casinos.
The task force also recommended changing the statutory definition of gaming area from the current 30,000 square feet to basing it on the number of machines allowed. Proponents for this change said modern digital machines are getting larger and more interactive and include social media features.
Jones said each riverboat licensee would be required to submit a development plan to the Gaming Control Board before it could add slot machines on land. “The riverboat licensees will not just be able to throw slot machines into a meeting room,” Jones said.
Another change would eliminate the requirement that riverboat casinos have an operating paddlewheel, dating back to 1991 when Louisiana voters approved riverboat gambling.
