Louisiana Dips Its Toes Into Online Gambling

Louisiana’s House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation that would investigate the viability of online gambling in The Pelican State. It’s next destination is the State Senate.

“It’s not a matter of if; it’s just a matter of when it’s going to happen, “said Mike Huval, the representative

who introduced the measure. The bill would see the state’s House’s Criminal Justice Administration Committee partner with the Judiciary B Committee of the state Senate, with all reported findings due before the start of the next legislative session.

The Republican representative is quick to point out that while the state has the potential of gaining ground economically by passing online gambling legislation, he’s not necessarily promoting the act of gambling online. “I want to provide a way to make it safer for our residents,” he said in an interview on a local television station, KATC.

Since “gambling by computer” was made illegal in Louisiana fifteen years ago, legalizing real money gaming transactions online will have a bit of an uphill battle. Yet, with such overwhelming support so far in the House of Representatives, it appears that Louisiana could very well join the ranks of Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada as early as 2014.