The sweepstakes casino business model has become increasingly popular in the U.S. lately, and many states have started taking action against it. We have seen loads of attempts to “contain” these sites, including suggestions to ban them completely. Some states have made more progress than others in this department, and this article covers all the latest bills, bans, and everything else you should know.
| State | Relevant Bill / Authority | Current Status | Hard Effective Date | Player & Operator Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | HB 1052 | Banned | July 1, 2026 | Up to $100,000 civil fines per violation; peer-to-peer poker exempt. |
| Iowa | SF 2289 | Enforcement Expanded | July 1, 2026 | IRGC granted direct administrative cease-and-desist and court injunction powers. |
| Louisiana | HB 883 & HB 53 | Banned | August 1, 2026 | Felony penalties and state Racketeering Act enforcement against operators. |
| Maine | LD 2007 | Banned | July 14, 2026 | Civil fines of $10k–$100k per violation; passed alongside separate tribal iGaming. |
| Maryland | HB 295 / HB 1226 | Died in Committee | N/A (Active/Legal) | Failed in Senate committee; MLGCA regulatory scrutiny remains active. |
| Minnesota | SF 4474 / HF 4410 | Died in Session | N/A (Active/Legal) | Passed Senate but adjourned in House; AG cease-and-desist orders active. |
| Ohio | HB 298 | Pending / Stalled | N/A (Active/Legal) | Sweeps prohibition coupled with commercial iGaming; stalled in committee. |
| Oklahoma | SB 1589 | Banned (Veto Overridden) | November 1, 2026 | Class C2 felony offense; brands pulling out ahead of hard deadline. |
| Tennessee | SB 2136 | Banned | May 22, 2026 | Enforced under Consumer Protection Act; event market manipulation made Class E felony. |
| Washington, D.C. | B26-0656 | Pending Review | N/A (Active/Legal) | Proposes up to $500,000 fines alongside legal commercial online casino launch. |
As the legislation landscape regarding sweepstakes platforms across different U.S. states keeps changing rapidly, it might be difficult to keep up with all the developments. We have compiled the lates information on upcoming state-wide sweepstakes casino bans, with their hard effective dates, so that you can prepare on time:
| State | Enacted Legislation | Hard Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | Senate Bill 1589 | November 1, 2026 |
Louisiana is also putting a complete stop to sweepstakes casinos. Following dozens of warning letters sent to sites in mid-2025, Governor Jeff Landry signed two strict new laws (HB 883 and HB 53) in May 2026, officially making dual-currency online gaming illegal across the Pelican State.
Louisiana’s new rules carry some of the toughest penalties in the entire country, including potential felony charges and huge fines for operators, promoters, and payment processors. Because of these severe laws, almost every top sweepstakes brand has already pulled out of the state ahead of the official August 1, 2026 enforcement date.
What you should do: stop purchasing coins and request redemptions for any remaining Sweeps Coins right away. If you’re looking for legal ways to play in Louisiana, you can still use licensed mobile sportsbooks, daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps, or visit local land-based and tribal casinos.
Get the full breakdown of the ban in our guide to Louisiana sweepstakes casinos.
Dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos became officially illegal in Maine on July 14, 2026, following the enactment of Legislative Document 2007 (LD 2007). Signed by Governor Janet Mills on April 6, 2026, the law strictly classifies casino-style games using the “Gold Coin and Sweeps Coin” prize redemption model as unlawful gambling.
The statute does not target everyday players; instead, it hits non-compliant operators, promoters, and payment processors with steep civil fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation. Facing these massive financial liabilities, virtually every major sweepstakes brand geofenced Maine and began blocking local players ahead of the summer enforcement date.
It is important not to confuse the sweepstakes ban with Maine’s tribal online casino expansion. While LD 2007 was strictly an enforcement bill to shut down unregulated sweepstakes apps, separate legislation (LD 1777) granted Maine’s Wabanaki Nations the exclusive right to operate licensed, commercial mobile casinos. Lawmakers effectively cleared out gray-market sweepstakes platforms to pave the way for fully regulated, state-taxed real-money gaming, with tribal-backed casino apps slated to launch in late 2026 or early 2027.
Industry giants like DraftKings and Caesars are already setting up shop to launch legal, state-taxed apps late this year or in early 2027. Sweepstakes might be gone from the Pine Tree State, but 100% legal real-money slots and tables are on the way.
Iowa has officially moved past the phase of legislative “uncertainty” with the enactment of Senate File 2289, when Governor Kim Reynolds signed it into law on May 15, 2026. Diverging from the absolute statutory bans seen in states like Indiana or Oklahoma, Iowa’s lawmakers chose an enforcement-first approach.
SF 2289 explicitly inserts “illegal sweepstakes” into the regulatory purview of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC). This upgrade grants the commission the explicit legal authority to issue administrative cease-and-desist orders and seek court-backed injunctive relief against any unlicensed platform offering games of chance or dual-currency models within state lines.
This law went into full effect on July 1, 2026, giving state gaming officials the power to check out websites one by one and close down the ones they think are breaking the rules.
Because of this, some major sweepstakes casinos have already terminated their presence in Iowa, including High 5 Casino, Baba Casino, and Lucky Bunny. We recommend players from Iowa to check any official communication from their favorite sweepstakes brands and proceed carefully. Try not to leave large balances in your accounts, as some more sweepstakes casinos might choose to block Iowa players in the coming months.
After efforts to legalize online gambling stalled in early 2025 with the failure of House Bill 1432, Indiana lawmakers pivoted to a direct crackdown on dual-currency sweepstakes platforms. The Hoosier State officially closed its doors to sweepstakes casinos when Governor Mike Braun signed House Bill 1052 into law in March 2026.
House Bill 1052 explicitly targets platforms offering casino-style or lottery-simulated games that use dual-currency systems redeemable for cash or real-world prizes. To enforce the prohibition, the state granted the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) aggressive new powers, including civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation against non-compliant operators. Notably, the bill still allows peer-to-peer, skill-based poker platforms. However, standard sweepstakes slot and table game operations are strictly banned.
The law went into full effect on July 1, 2026. In the meantime, major sweepstakes casino operators began withdrawing from the Indiana market to avoid severe financial penalties. Indiana players are strongly advised to review any official announcements regarding their accounts and request redemptions for any remaining Sweeps Coins balances immediately. As enforcement ramps up, any remaining sweepstakes platforms are expected to block Indiana residents completely.
You can get more information in our detailed guide to the ban of Indiana sweepstakes casinos.
Governor Bill Lee approved SB 2136 on May 22 and signed it into law. As a result, Tennessee has officially become one of the states that have banned online sweepstakes. This decision comes after the legislature approved this ban earlier in April 2026. The new regulations classify sweepstakes casinos as platforms that use dual-currency systems, and it also gives a definition to other options like slots, video poker and bingo, among others.
Under the new rules, running illegal sweepstakes can constitute a violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. This will allow authorities to issue fines and even take legal action. Additionally, the state’s Attorney General will have greater investigative powers.
Moreover, a new law makes prediction market manipulation a criminal offense. People who intentionally influence the outcome of an event can be charged with a Class E felony. This makes Tennessee among the first states in the U.S. to ban this specific type of market manipulation.
In May 2026, Oklahoma became a primary battleground in the national campaign against sweepstakes casinos following a dramatic legislative showdown over Senate Bill 1589. Heavily backed by the state’s powerful tribal gaming entities, who view unregulated dual-currency platforms as a direct economic threat, the bill comfortably cleared both chambers before facing a sudden veto from Governor Kevin Stitt on May 7.
Stitt publicly criticized the legislation, arguing that it unnecessarily weaponized criminal felony charges against businesses and everyday apps. However, lawmakers successfully overrode the governor’s veto on May 14, 2026, passing the measure with overwhelming two-thirds majorities in both the Senate (34–10) and House (68–19).
Players should know that SB 1589 does not trigger an immediate blackout. There is a formal grace period ahead of the official state-wide sweepstakes ban coming on November 1, 2026. Once active, the law will designate the dual-currency framework as illegal online gambling and upgrade violations to a Class C2 felony offense, carrying fines up to $2,000 and potential jail time.
Important
Effective November 1, 2026, Oklahoma’s SB 1589 officially prohibits dual-currency sweepstakes platforms, prompting operators like Chumba, Pulsz, and McLuck to enforce strict IP geoblocking and shut down player access statewide. If you still have an account with an active balance, log in immediately or contact customer support to request a final cash prize redemption before platforms conclude their complete operational wind-down.
Online sweepstakes casinos remain legal and available in Minnesota as of November 2026. While state lawmakers came close to passing an outright ban earlier in the year, the primary bill failed before becoming law.
In early 2026, Minnesota lawmakers introduced Senate File 4474 and companion House File 4410, aimed at completely outlawing dual-currency sweepstakes platforms (Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins). The proposed law sought to impose felony-level penalties not just on operators, but also on payment processors, affiliates, and software suppliers.
While the Senate overwhelmingly passed SF 4474 on April 30, 2026, the House companion bill died in committee when the legislative session adjourned on May 18, 2026. As a result, no statewide ban was enacted, giving sweepstakes operators a major legislative reprieve.
Attorney General Keith Ellison issued cease-and-desist orders to 14 unlicensed offshore and sweepstakes platforms. While compliant platforms continue to operate legally, several brands voluntarily exited the state to reduce legal risk.
Because anti-sweepstakes legislation gained strong bipartisan momentum in the Senate, lawmakers are expected to reintroduce a similar ban during the next legislative session.
It seems like Maryland lawmakers are reconsidering a bill to crack down on illegal online gambling and sweepstakes casinos. They believe these sites are essentially using the dual-currency model and avoiding any regulation.
Jeff Waldstreicher and Chris West are behind the proposal and it would give the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency more power. It will be able to issue cease-and-desist orders, freeze accounts and fine violators. What’s more, the agency will be able to go after the payment processors and different partners of these sites, not just the sites themselves. This is good news for the agency because it has reported that it needs more authority in order to be effective.
The important thing is that the new bill targets unregulated gambling sites. It excludes the legal sports betting and fantasy sports platforms, so users don’t need to worry about them getting away.
Keep in mind that the Maryland House was among the first in the U.S. to pass sweepstakes prohibition bills (HB 295 and HB 1226). However, both bills fell short and ultimately died in the Senate committee during the last session. Although Maryland failed to pass the bill, other states like California, New Jersey, and New York succeeded.
Ohio was among the states considering a ban on sweepstakes casinos. However, it seems the proposal is still on hold because state lawmakers decided not to act on House Bill 298. This means you can still check the highest sweepstakes casinos rated there and pick the one you like best.
As of 2026, Ohio remains one of the key markets for sweepstakes casinos. Given that it’s among the most populous states in the country, sweepstakes operators focus heavily on it because it’s also among the few major jurisdictions where these sites can operate legally.
The fact that lawmakers decided not to move forward with HB 298 shows that they are open to dialogue. However, it also shows that there’s always a risk of a future ban. The class action lawsuit against Crown Coins casinos definitely adds fuel to the potential ban and shows that there is regulatory pressure on these operators.
Assuming such a ban becomes a reality, many Ohio residents are likely to focus on offshore platforms. These companies lack consumer protections and responsible gambling tools and put players at great risk.
Washington, D.C. is considering a major overhaul of its online gaming laws. Introduced by Councilmember Wendell Felder, Bill B26-0656 (the Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026) proposes legalizing real-money online casinos while banning dual-currency sweepstakes platforms. The legislation remains pending review by the D.C. Council following public committee hearings.
If enacted in its current form, B26-0656 would outlaw dual-currency (Gold Coins/Sweeps Coin) and subscription-based sweepstakes games within District borders:
The Bill B26-0656 hasn’t moved since its May 2026 public hearing, so sweepstakes casino platforms remain legal and active in Washington, D.C. for the foreseeable future. Players can continue accessing sweeps platforms until official legislation potentially passes and enforcement dates are set.
It seems like we are on the verge of witnessing a new sweeps model that ties revenue to subscriptions. The new model first became available on a site called Thrillaroo, which is a subscription-based casino-style platform.
But how does it actually work? Well, the site has two main modes you can choose from – Thrill Mode and Chill Mode. The latter uses Chill Points, which are its virtual currency, and it means you can play for free. Unlike traditional Gold Coins, however, these never end, so you can always play with them.
Those wishing to test Thrill Mode will discover that it uses Thrill Tokens, which users must purchase. This makes them very different from Sweeps Coins because sweepstakes casinos usually do not allow people to purchase them directly. Users will quickly discover that the Thrill Tokens carry monetary value and players can redeem their balances like on a real gaming platform.
This is where the subscription model comes into play. People with a paid membership can access the Win Win Guarantee, which is added to Thrill Mode. Once the subscription period is over, the site will compare your total wagers with winnings. If you have lost more than you won, Thrillaroo will return the difference. In other words, you only lose the subscription fee.
The innovative platform is currently available in NY and CA and its membership starts from $29.99 for a week. You can also subscribe for $99.99 for 30 days or $289.99 for 90 days.
