Debt Recovery Office Able To Seize Casino Winnings

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A state debt collection office created by lawmakers last year now has the authority to seize casino and lottery winnings to pay off delinquent debts people owe to state agencies.

But first the state Office of Debt Recovery and the casinos have to devise a computer database to check the names of gambling winners against the list of people who haven't paid their debts.

The bill allowing the seizure was sponsored by Republican Rep. Chris Broadwater, of Hammond, who pushed for the creation of the Office of Debt Recovery last year. Gov. Bobby Jindal's office announced Tuesday that the governor has signed the measure into law.

The first draw on any seized gambling winnings will be to pay back-owed child support.