Sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana are effectively banned. Legal action against sweepstakes platforms started in 2025 with numerous cease-and-desist orders to major sweepstakes brands. However, on August 1, 2026, two new gambling-enforcement laws in Louisiana took effect (House Bill 883 and House Bill 53).
The first explicitly applies the state’s gambling-by-computer law to cover dual-currency, casino-style online games. HB 53 goes even further and classifies certain gambling activities (including unauthorized electronic sweepstakes machines) as racketeering, leading to much more severe penalties.
Residents of Louisiana can continue to play at regulated land-based casino properties and licensed mobile sportsbooks. They can even take part in daily fantasy sports, access the local lottery, and bet on horse racing.
No, sweepstakes casinos are no longer legal in Louisiana. While two new laws targeting sweepstakes platforms came into effect in August 2026, sweepstakes casinos have been considered illegal under existing laws since mid-2025.
HB 883 and HB 53 (signed into law as Acts 182 and 48) serve as the final nails in the coffin of sweepstakes casinos in the Pelican State. They clarify any remaining legal uncertainties from 2025 and impose much harsher penalties for sweepstakes casinos.
Under Act 182, the maximum fine for offering illegal gambling games by computer goes up to $100,000 and up to five years in prison. Act 48 goes even further and prescribes penalties of $1 million in fines and up to 50 years of hard labor for illegal gambling crimes classified as racketeering. These two laws effectively make Louisiana one of the states with the most severe anti-sweepstakes legislation in the U.S.
Besides Louisiana, sweepstakes casinos are also banned in these U.S. states:
Unlike in other states, the crackdown on sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana took place over two separate legislative sessions. Here are the most important points that led to the full ban:
Even though the hard cut-off point was August 1, 2026, you should be aware that the Louisiana law had already been treating sweepstakes platforms as illegal. All reputable sweepstakes platforms have already excluded players from the Pelican State even before August.
No, playing at online sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana is considered illegal by state legislation. While the laws mostly target operators and businesses, players trying to access sweepstakes casinos from Louisiana can also get in trouble.
A person who commits the crime of gambling by computer could receive a fine of up to $500. The current version of the Louisiana Revised Statutes §14:90.3 also states that there could be imprisonment of up to 6 months or even both. The new Act 182 retains that penalty and clarifies that it applies to people physically located in the state.
It’s worth noting that Act 182 substantially increases the negative consequences for operators and businesses. A company that engages in gambling by computer can receive up to a $100,000 fine. People involved could also face imprisonment with or without hard labor for as much as 5 years.
Marketing affiliates, promoters, and payment processors face fines of up to $20,000 and five years in prison for facilitating these platforms. If the platform accepts wagers from anyone under the age of 21, this facilitator penalty automatically doubles to $40,000.
Although sweepstakes casinos are not legal in Louisiana, local players can still play casino-style games and bet for money using other, legal options:
Stop purchasing or playing with additional Sweeps Coins. You have to check whether the sweepstake platform in question allows you to redeem your existing balance. If it does, try to complete the process and stop using your account.
No. Chumba’s current rules do not allow players from the Pelican State to take part in its Sweeps Coins promos. WOW Vegas, on the other hand, stopped serving clients in Louisiana in July 2025 (alongside several other sweepstakes casinos).
The legal online gambling alternatives in Louisiana include mobile sportsbooks, online horse racing betting, and approved daily fantasy sports platforms.
