Louisiana Gives Crypto Kiosk Users Legal Edge Against Unlicensed Operators

Starting August 1st, users of cryptocurrency kiosks in Louisiana can demand full refunds if the operator was unlicensed at the time of the transaction. The change is a result of Act 482, which shifts the cost of eligible refunds to the operators rather than the users.

The act affects transactions made on or after August 1st and requires operators to acknowledge and respond to refund requests within 10 business days. A covered refund must be completed within 90 calendar days of the initial request, with payment possible more than 90 days after the user first asks.

Operators are required to provide live support through a toll-free number during kiosk operating hours and display this number on the machine and on the transaction receipt. Proof of a police or other governmental-entity report and proof of identification may be required for suspected fraud, which can delay payment beyond the initial request date.

The change is in response to documented cases of cryptocurrency kiosk-related fraud in Louisiana, with 144 complaints recorded by the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2025 involving $2,874,450 in adjusted losses. The act does not cover every kiosk payment and eligibility depends on the operator's license status at the time of the transaction.