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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> w of LoOfsf DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> * + * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> (225)219-5600 <br /> «,»•• FAX:(225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.1a.gov <br /> October 11, 2022 <br /> Eric Wang <br /> The Gober Group <br /> 1501 Wilson Blvd. <br /> Suite 1050 <br /> Arlington, Virginia 22209 <br /> Re: Docket No. 2022-546 <br /> Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Wang: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its October 7, 2022 meeting, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion, on behalf of the Sports Betting Alliance ("SBA"), as to whether SBA is <br /> prohibited from making contributions in Louisiana while one of its members is subject to the <br /> state's gaming industry contribution ban. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> SBA is a Section 501(c)(6) trade association that advocate for the legalization and regulation of <br /> sports betting. SBA's primary purpose and activity is lobbying. SBA makes contributions from <br /> time to time to support candidates and political committees; such contributions are paid from its <br /> general corporate treasury, which is comprised of its members' dues payments. <br /> One of SBA's dues paying members(the"Subject Member")has an interest as defined in La.R.S. <br /> 1505.2L(3)(b)(i) in a legal entity included in La. R.S. 1505.2L(3)(a)(i) and/or La. R.S. <br /> 1505.2L(3)(a)(ii). <br /> The dues paid by the Subject Member shall be placed into a segregated account which will not be <br /> used to make any Louisiana contributions. SBA will also exclude the Subject Member from any <br /> decision-making regarding Louisiana contributions. The Subject Member does not own 25% or <br /> more of SBA. <br /> LAW <br /> La. R.S. 1505.2L <br /> (1) The legislature recognizes that it is essential to the operation of effective democratic <br /> government in this state that citizens have confidence in the electoral process and that elections be <br /> conducted so as to prevent influence and the appearance of influence of candidates for public office <br /> Page 1 of 3 (BD 2022-546) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />