Citing recent legalization in Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware, Rep. Mike Huval asked the state’s House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice and the Senate Committee on Judiciary to report on their findings before the 2014 legislature.

“Louisiana has the potential to benefit economically by legalizing Internet gaming,” Huval wrote, pointing out that the gaming industry has brought in $14.3 billion in revenue to state coffers over the past 23 years.

The joint committee will look for input from the governor, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the office of state police gaming division, the gaming division of the office of the attorney general, the gaming industry and others, Huval’s resolution states.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle in Louisiana, which Huval points to, is the fact that “gambling by computer” was made a crime in 1997.

But Huval also notes that since that since Louisiana’s anti-computer gambling law was passed, “many websites exist where Louisiana citizens can participate in Internet gaming activities,” and “both technology and the use of the Internet have flourished, resulting in the ability to conduct gaming activities through the use of a computer or mobile device.”

Huval’s resolution states that sites based outside of the US have “no safeguards regarding the integrity of the games or protection of those persons who wager on those games,” while Louisiana gaming has been “strictly regulated … to promote economic development and protect the citizens of the state.”

The Bayou State is the latest in a series of states to consider legalizing online gaming since the Department of Justice relaxed its stance on interstate gambling. While Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware quickly worked toward legalization, the process has proved much slower in states like California, New York and Illinois, which could attract millions of players.

Louisiana is home to more than 20 casinos, including the land-based Harrah’s New Orleans and several riverboat casinos across the state.