§66. Gaming while a riverboat is docked in the parish of the official gaming establishment

A. Notwithstanding any provision in this Chapter to the contrary, for purposes of this Section any riverboat licensed to conduct gaming in the parish of the official gaming establishment, except as provided in Subsection B of this Section, shall not be permitted to conduct gaming while docked and shall be required to conduct cruises and excursions as provided in R.S. 27:65(B)(1) as in effect January 1, 1997, and shall, in addition, meet the requirements of R.S. 27:44(4) and R.S. 27:44(23)(c) and (d) as in effect January 1, 1997.

B. Notwithstanding any provision in this Chapter to the contrary, the provisions of R.S. 27:65(B)(1)(c) and 66 shall apply to not more than one licensed riverboat at any time which must be located on Lake Pontchartrain in the parish of the official gaming establishment as defined in R.S. 27:203 and 205 if and only if:

(1) Such riverboat conducts gaming activities only in the designated gaming area;

(2) The owner or operator of such riverboat does not participate directly or indirectly in the ownership, construction, operation, or subsidization of any hotel of a size exceeding three hundred ninety-nine guest rooms within a distance of one mile from the berthing area of the licensed riverboat; and

(3) Such riverboat does not maintain or offer for patron or public use on the vessel or at its terminal, berthing area, or any hotel referred to above, more than eight thousand square feet of restaurant facilities in the aggregate, exclusive of food preparation and handling area.

C. In the event the riverboat referred to in Subsection B of this Section violates any of the restrictions set forth in Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of Subsection B of this Section, no gaming may be conducted as long as such violation continues.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections B and C of this Section, if the official gaming establishment is not subject to the Amended and Renegotiated Casino Operating Contract among the state of Louisiana by and through the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, Harrah's Jazz Company and Jazz Casino Company, L.L.C., effective as of October 30, 1998, as amended, and is not subject to any other casino operating contract as defined in R.S. 27:205 which contains exclusivity provisions in accordance with R.S. 27:201 et seq., any riverboat licensed in the parish of the official gaming establishment may conduct gaming activities in compliance with the provisions of Subsection B of this Section without adhering to the restrictions set forth in Paragraphs (B)(1) through (3) of this Section.

E. A riverboat gaming licensee authorized to conduct gaming while the riverboat is docked in the parish of the official gaming establishment shall be subject to all other applicable provisions of law, rules, and regulations which govern riverboat gaming, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section.

Acts 2001, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 3, §2, eff. March 27, 2001; Acts 2018, No. 469, §1, eff. May 23, 2018.