Read the full stored bill text
HLS 26RS-314 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 72
BY REPRESENTATIVE TRAVIS JOHNSON
GAMING: Provides for parish elections to permit gaming
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 18:1300.27, relative to gaming; to allow parishes to call for a referendum
3 election on certain types of gaming; to provide for election procedure; and to provide
4 for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 18:1300.27 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §1300.27. Gaming; local option election
8 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the governing
9 authority of each parish in the state is hereby authorized to call and conduct an
10 election on a proposition to allow the operation of any form of gaming previously
11 approved by the legislature which was not allowed in that parish on January 1, 2026.
12 B. The governing authority of each parish in this state may call, by ordinance
13 or resolution, an election on the proposition of whether to allow any of the following
14 forms of gaming, if that form of gaming was not allowed in that parish on January
15 1, 2026:
16 (1) Riverboat gaming, as permitted by Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Louisiana
17 Revised Statutes of 1950.
18 (2) Horse racing, as permitted by Chapter 4 of Title 4 of the Louisiana
19 Revised Statutes of 1950.
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-314 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 72
1 (3) Video draw poker, as permitted by Chapter 8 of Title 27 of the Louisiana
2 Revised Statutes of 1950.
3 (4) Sports wagering, as permitted by Chapter 10 of Title 27 of the Louisiana
4 Revised Statutes of 1950.
5 C. A governing authority of a parish that calls, by ordinance or resolution,
6 a proposition election pursuant to this Section shall provide for a separate
7 proposition on the ballot for each form of gaming so that electors may vote for or
8 against each form of gaming that appears on the ballot.
9 D. For each form of gaming that appears on the ballot, if a majority of
10 electors voting in the election vote in favor of that form of gaming, then that form
11 of gaming shall be allowed within that parish.
12 E. For each form of gaming that appears on the ballot, if a majority of
13 electors voting in the election vote not in favor of that form of gaming, then that
14 form of gaming shall not be allowed within that parish.
15 F. A governing authority that calls an election pursuant to this Section shall
16 not include on the ballot any form of gaming which was allowed in that parish on
17 January 1, 2026.
18 G. Elections called pursuant to this Section shall be held in compliance with
19 the Louisiana Election Code provisions governing proposition elections.
20 H. The costs of the election shall be paid by the governing authority that
21 calls the election.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 72 Original 2026 Regular Session Travis Johnson
Abstract: Provides for parish elections to allow certain types of gaming.
Present law provides that certain forms of gaming are permitted by state law and may be
conducted in a parish pursuant to a parish election to approve that form of gaming.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-314 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 72
Proposed law retains present law and permits parishes to hold new elections on whether to
permit certain types of gaming within the parish, if such gaming was not allowed in the
respective parish on Jan. 1, 2026.
Proposed law provides that the cost of the election shall be paid by the governing authority
that calls the election.
(Adds R.S. 18:1300.27)
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.