Indiana Sweepstakes Casino Ban Sent to Governor for Final Approval
Indiana lawmakers have cleared legislation that would outlaw sweepstakes casinos, sending the measure to Gov. Mike Braun for final consideration. If enacted, the state would be the first in 2026 to formally prohibit the business model.
Both chambers adopted a conference committee version of HB 1052 this week after reconciling minor differences. The proposal would take effect on July 1 and position Indiana as the seventh state to implement such a ban.
The House originally approved the bill by a vote of 86-12 in early February. The Senate later passed it 37-8 while attaching language related to tobacco and electronic cigarette wholesalers.
The final version increases the enforcement authority of the Indiana Gaming Commission, allowing regulators to pursue operators that lack proper authorization. Indiana is the first legislature this year to advance a completed sweepstakes prohibition through both chambers.
Indiana could soon join a number of states with bans on sweepstakes casinos. California, Connecticut, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York have already enacted statutory bans on sweepstakes casinos.
In Louisiana, lawmakers approved similar legislation, but Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed it, after which the Louisiana Gaming Control Board issued 40 cease-and-desist letters as part of more than 100 sent nationwide last year.
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Other states are currently exploring similar bans. Mississippi senators again approved SB 2104, marking the second consecutive year the chamber has endorsed a sweepstakes casino ban. The measure previously stalled in conference after House lawmakers added online sports betting provisions that created a conundrum between the two bodies.
In Maine, the Joint Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs advanced LD 2007, sending the bill to the Senate floor. The action follows Gov. Janet Mills’ approval of online casino expansion in January.
Tennessee's Senate Commerce and Labor Committee voted 8-0 to advance SB 2136. The bill categorizes certain illegal gambling conduct as a violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and strengthens investigative authority for the sports wagering council and attorney general, specifically citing dual currency operators.
The Iowa Senate approved SF 2289 by a 44-0 margin, broadening the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission's oversight to include unregulated entities such as offshore sportsbooks and sweepstakes platforms. Maryland lawmakers are considering four separate proposals addressing sweepstakes casinos, including one scheduled for a Senate committee hearing on 11 March.
Regulators have also taken administrative action outside the legislative process. In February, the Illinois Gaming Board and the Attorney General's office issued more than 60 cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed online casino and sweepstakes operators.
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