Legislative Preview: Legislation Would Claim Unclaimed Gambling Winnings For State

New Orleans Rep. Helena Moreno has prefiled a bill that would allow the state to use unclaimed gambling winnings and use that money for some health care services.

According to a digest of HB143, money not claimed after the legally proscribed 90 day waiting period would be collected and "used exclusively for health care services of victims of sexually oriented criminal offenses."

The Jindal administration says casinos keep about $2.3 million in unclaimed winnings every year.

"I'm sure there will be some opposition (from the gaming community) considering they've been able to treat this as earnings," Moreno told the Times Picayune. "But I couldn't think of a better cause."

The bill has the backing of Gov. Bobby Jindal.