2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 27 — Louisiana gaming control
RS 27:30.6 — Electronic gaming devices; central computer system

§30.6. Electronic gaming devices; central computer system

A. The legislature hereby finds and declares that:

(1) There is a compelling state interest in ensuring the most efficient, honest, and accurate regulation of the gaming industry.

(2) In order to maintain the security and integrity of electronic gaming devices and for ensuring accurate and thorough accounting procedures, the law mandates that all licensed video draw poker devices, video pull-tabs, electronic gaming devices on licensed riverboats, and slot machines at live racing facilities be connected to a central computer. Likewise the casino operating contract provides for complete and unrestricted access to information contained within their centralized computer to the office of state police and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. The legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state and the general public that all electronic gaming devices licensed in this state should be subject to this type of monitoring and accordingly that all electronic gaming devices should be linked by telecommunication to a central computer system.

(3) The present level of technology in electronic gaming devices makes it both feasible and efficacious to require all electronic gaming devices on licensed riverboats in this state to be linked by telecommunication to a central computer system which will facilitate the monitoring and reading of the devices for the purposes of maintaining the security and integrity of the devices and the integrity of the information reported to the system, in order to ensure that licensees meet their financial obligations to the state.

(4) The most efficient, accurate, and honest regulation of the gaming industry in this state can best be facilitated by establishing a central computer system under which all electronic gaming devices will be linked to that system by telecommunication to provide superior capability of auditing, reporting, and regulation of that industry.

B. Any electronic gaming device which is included in the definition of "game", "gaming device", and "gaming equipment", as provided for in R.S. 27:44(10) or (12) or in the definition of "slot machine" as provided for in R.S. 27:44(24), or R.S. 27:353(14), or which is included in the definitions in the rules adopted or enforced by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, or which is otherwise regulated by Chapters 4 and 7 of this Title shall be linked by telecommunication to a central computer system for purposes of monitoring and reading device activities as provided for in this Section.

C. The provisions of this Section shall apply to any electronic gaming device operated by the holder of a license as defined in R.S. 27:44(14) and regulated by the provisions of Chapter 4 of this Title and to any electronic gaming device operated by the holder of a license as defined in R.S. 27:353(5) and regulated by the provisions of Chapter 7 of this Title.

D. The central computer system authorized by the provisions of this Section shall be designed and operated to allow the monitoring and reading of electronic gaming devices on licensed riverboats for the purposes of maintaining the security and integrity of the devices and the integrity of the information reported to the system, so that the fiscal responsibility of the licensees with regard to their obligations to the state will be ensured. The central computer system authorized by the provisions of this Section shall be located within and administered by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, gaming division.

E. The central computer system shall be capable of monitoring and reading financial aspects of each electronic gaming device such as cash in, cash out, amount played, amount won, games played, and games won. As used in this Subsection, "cash" means coins, currency, tokens, credits, or any other thing of value which is used to play or operate an electronic gaming device or which is used to pay the winnings from playing or operating an electronic gaming device.

F. The central computer system shall provide for the monitoring and reading of exception code reporting such as an on-line computer alert, alarm monitoring capability to ensure direct scrutiny of conditions detected and reported by the electronic gaming device, including any device malfunction, any type of tampering, and any open door to the drop area.

G. The central computer system shall not provide for the monitoring or reading of personal or financial information concerning patrons of gaming activities conducted on a riverboat.

H. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this Section. All rules shall be adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and the provisions of R.S. 27:15(B)(8). The rules shall ensure that the security and integrity of the electronic gaming devices are preserved and that the information transmitted to the central computer system through telecommunication is complete and accurate and will facilitate regulatory efforts to ensure that licensees fulfill their financial obligations to the state. The rules shall provide for the orderly and efficacious collection and payment of the fee provided for by this Section and may provide for the payment of the fee at the same time as other fees owed by the licensee to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board or the division.

I. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, shall impose and collect an annual fee not in excess of fifty dollars on each electronic gaming device linked by telecommunication to the central computer system as provided by this Section. The purpose of the fee shall be to defray the costs to the state of acquiring, implementing, and maintaining the central computer system as provided for in this Section. The annual fee shall be established in an amount which will generate an amount of funds in each fiscal year which is equal to the projected cost of administering the system for that fiscal year. No additional fee shall be imposed with respect to the central computer system. This fee shall be in addition to any other fee provided for by this Chapter. The fee shall be subject to the following provisions:

(1) The fee shall be collected each state fiscal year. The initial fee shall be due when the electronic gaming device is linked by telecommunication to the central computer system.

(2) The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, shall hold a public hearing on the proposed fee during the month of January of the year preceding the fiscal year in which the fee is to be effective. The public shall be allowed a reasonable opportunity to comment on the proposed fee in the hearing and shall be allowed a reasonable opportunity to submit written comments and related information concerning the proposed fee.

(3) The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, shall submit the amount of the proposed fee to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over gaming matters as provided by legislative rule no later than March fifteenth of each year. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, shall submit to those committees information and documentation which establishes that the level of regulation is consistent with the purposes of this Section and that the amount of the proposed fee is limited to generating funds to defray the costs of administering the central computer system for that fiscal year.

(4) No fee shall be imposed or collected unless the legislative committees with jurisdiction over gaming matters as provided by legislative rule have found that the information and documentation submitted by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, is sufficient to justify the amount of the proposed fee and those committees have affirmatively approved the amount of the proposed fee.

J. The telecommunication between electronic gaming devices on licensed riverboats and the central computer system shall be in continuous operation at all times.

K. The state of Louisiana shall not be responsible for any costs associated with upgrading any electronic gaming device to enable the device to be linked for telecommunication with the central computer system provided for by this Section. All costs associated with such an upgrade shall be paid by the licensee.

L. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to persons licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law as provided for in Chapter 6 of this Title or to the casino gaming operator.

M. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the casino gaming operator conducting gaming operations at the official gaming establishment pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Control Law as provided for in Chapter 5 of this Title.

Acts 2004, No. 336, §1, eff. June 18, 2004.