Over the past month, sweepstakes casinos have retreated from key states, while lawmakers advance with ban bills across the U.S.
The sweepstakes casino sector continues to face growing scrutiny from legislators and regulators across the U.S. Over the past month, several platforms have expanded their restricted jurisdictions, while lawmakers have advanced multiple bills targeting the sector.
This monthly tracker highlights key operator exits, legislative developments, and enforcement trends shaping the sweepstakes casino landscape.
Exits Over The Past Month
Several sweepstakes casinos updated their restricted territories over the past month, with Illinois standing out. The state sent cease-and-desist letters to 65 operators in early February. Only two initially complied, with several others following suit this month.
Notable exits:
- Carnival Citi: Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont
- Lonestar Casino: Tennessee
- Moonspin Casino: Tennessee
- Sixty 6: Arizona, California, Illinois, Virginia
- Ruby Sweeps: Illinois
- Sweeps Jungle: Arizona, California
- Zunado: West Virginia
- The Win Zone: Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia
- GoldSlips: Illinois
- Gold Treasure: Illinois
- Spin Saga: Illinois and Minnesota
California officially banned sweepstakes casinos effective January 1, but some platforms are still adjusting their terms and conditions. Carnival Citi, known as one of the more cautious operators, added Indiana, where a ban takes effect July 1, and Maine, where lawmakers have advanced a prohibition bill.
Legislative Tracker: States to Watch
More than a dozen states have introduced or advanced legislation targeting sweepstakes casinos this year. Below are the key jurisdictions to watch.
Maine: Passed in the Senate, on the House Floor
Earlier this month, the Maine Senate passed LD 2007, which explicitly prohibits “sweepstakes games,” defined as internet-based games that use a dual-currency system and offer casino-style outcomes.
The measure now sits on the House floor, where lawmakers have left it as “unfinished business” for five consecutive sessions.
The Maine Legislature adjourns on April 15.
Tennessee: Passed in the Senate
The Tennessee Senate unanimously passed SB 2139, which prohibits “online sweepstakes games,” on March 3. However, the measure has not made any progress in the House. Its companion bill recently advanced from committee, indicating potential alignment.
The legislative session adjourns on April 24.
Oklahoma: Passed in the Senate
The Oklahoma Senate passed SB 1589 on March 3. The bill defines “online casino games” as those that include risking anything of value, including currencies used by dual-currency systems.
The bill has seen limited activity in the House so far, with only a change in co-sponsors. The session runs until May 29.
Iowa: Passed in the Senate
The Iowa Senate passed SF 2289 in late February. The bill does not explicitly target sweepstakes casinos, but grants the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission expanded powers to target unregulated gambling activities.
The bill was recently assigned to a House subcommittee, indicating potential movement. The Iowa legislative session ends on April 21.
Maryland: Passed in the House
The Maryland House passed two separate bills targeting sweepstakes casinos just before the crossover deadline on March 23. HB 295 is a definition bill that bans “interactive games”, defined as those that utilize a multi-currency payment system. Meanwhile, HB 1226 is an enforcement bill.
Both bills have received Senate hearings. Lawmakers have roughly two weeks remaining before adjournment on April 13.
Minnesota: Early Developments
Minnesota lawmakers advanced two separate sweepstakes casino ban bills, HB 4474 and HB 4410, earlier this week. Both have similar language, targeting dual-currency payment systems.
HB 4474 has already been scheduled for a second committee on March 27, indicating potential for rapid movement.
The legislative session ends on May 18.
Louisiana: Early Developments
Two active bills in Louisiana target sweepstakes casinos. One, HB 53, expands Louisiana’s racketeering predicate list to add unlawful gambling. The bill has advanced to third reading in the House.
Another bill, HB 883, tightens Louisiana’s existing “gambling by computer” statute to include dual-currency platforms. The bill has not yet received a hearing. The crossover deadline is May 29.
Illinois: Facing a Critical Deadline
In Illinois, SB 3439, while still alive, faces a committee reporting deadline on March 27. The bill has seen no substantive movement since its introduction and has been re-referred between committees.
Utah: Passed Broader Bills
In Utah, one of the nation’s most restrictive states for gambling, lawmakers passed two bills that could potentially affect sweepstakes casinos.
HB 243 rewrites Utah’s gambling definitions. Under “fringe gambling,” it includes:
Any de facto form of gambling, lottery, fringe gaming device, or video gaming device that is given, conducted, or offered for use or sale by a business in exchange for anything of value or incident to the purchase of another good or service.”
The bill also clarifies that an “amusement device” must not allow players to enter lotteries or sweepstakes, or to receive anything of value as a prize.
Meanwhile, SB 38 tightens consumer protection statutes and expands the Utah Division of Consumer Protection’s authority over prize-based promotions, inducements, and consumer-facing digital platforms.
Failed Efforts: Florida, Virginia, Mississippi
Not all legislative efforts advanced this session.
In Virginia, two separate measures to legalize online casinos, which included a ban on sweeps casinos, were passed by both chambers, but they couldn’t agree in a conference committee before the session adjourned.
In Florida, lawmakers introduced several bills addressing unregulated gambling, with one failing on the finish line. Both the Senate and the House passed SB 1580, but because the House amended it, the Senate had to concur. However, lawmakers ran out of time, and the session ended.
In Mississippi, a similar scenario unfolded as in 2025. The Senate passed a sweepstakes casino ban bill, while the House passed a mobile sports betting bill. Due to their disagreements, both bills died before the March 3 committee deadline.
Where Are Sweeps Casinos Banned
Earlier this month, Indiana became the first state to explicitly prohibit dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, effective July 1.
Indiana joins six other states that enacted similar bans in 2025.
Montana, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and California enacted bans on dual-currency platforms. Nevada has not enacted a direct ban but has strengthened its statutes to allow regulators to pursue criminal charges against unlicensed operators.
Idaho, Washington, and Michigan have long been considered off-limits due to strict gambling laws and enforcement actions.
States Without a Ban But Effectively Off-Limits
Several states, including some with active ban bills, have effectively pushed out sweepstakes casinos through enforcement rather than legislation.
In Louisiana, Gambling Insider has confirmed that more than 70 platforms are no longer accessible following cease-and-desist orders and regulatory pressure.
Over 50 platforms restrict access in Tennessee, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia. Kentucky has also seen widespread operator restrictions.
What to Watch For Next Month
Lawmakers in multiple states with active bills will adjourn in April, including Maine, Iowa, Maryland, and Tennessee. In all of those, one chamber has already passed a bill, increasing the likelihood of further movement.
Arkansas and North Carolina open their legislative sessions in April, making them potential candidates for new sweepstakes-related bills.
Watch for more operators to exit Illinois, as most of the platforms that received cease-and-desist orders have yet to comply.
Watch for more exits from Indiana as the July 1 ban approaches.
The post Sweepstakes Casino Monthly Update: Enforcement, Exits, and Legislative Trends – March 2026 appeared first on Gambling Insider.
