Sweepstakes Games Bans: What States Are Going After Sweeps?

The fight against sweepstakes games is raging across the US. It seems state after state has taken the stance that sweepstakes games need to be stopped and have tabled, or in some cases, ed legislation banning these games.

Here's a sweepstakes games round-up with the latest legislative news from around the US.

States With Anti-Sweepstakes Bills

Connecticut | New York | Louisiana | New Jersey | Maine | Nevada

Connecticut​​​​​'s House just ed Bill SB 1235, which had previously ed the Senate with a unanimous 36-0 vote. The bill, which bans sweepstakes casino games and carries fines of $5,000 and five years in prison, is now headed to Governor Ned Lamont's desk to be signed into law.

The bill ed both the House and Senate in seemingly record time, thanks to very little opposition. Not only did the bill 36-0 in the Senate, but it also ed 146-0 in the House with five abstentions.

New York hasn't yet banned sweepstakes games, but Bill SB 5935 is inching closer to changing that. Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr.'s bill ed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and has moved to the General Assembly's Ways and Means Committee. 

Sweepstakes operators aren't waiting to be told they need to leave New York; VGW has already proactively pulled its sweepstakes offerings from the Empire State. 

In Louisiana, Bill SB 181 ed both houses and is awaiting the Senate's concurrence on minor amendments brought to the bill from the House. The Senate is expected to swiftly concur with the amendments and the bill for Governor Jeff Landry's signature.

Odds Shark reached out to Senator Adam Bass, who sponsored the bill, to comment on sweepstakes operators' willingness for regulation. The Senator's office has not yet answered. 

Two bills are in front of New Jersey lawmakers seeking to ban sweepstakes games from the Garden State: Assembly Bill 5447 and Senate Bill 4282. Neither is far in the legislative process yet, with AB5447 referred to the Assembly's Consumer Affairs Committee at the start of May, while SB4282 was referred to the Senate's Budget and Appropriations Committee. 

Maine's Gambling Control Unit has warned residents ing online gambling websites and apps that lack "regulatory oversight" in the Pine Tree State. The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) hit back, saying: "Our operate legally under longstanding promotional frameworks that have been used by major U.S. brands for decades."

Nevada's SB 256, approved in October of 2025, doesn't specifically ban sweepstakes games, but prohibits games played on any electronic device for any "representative value". While it is not abundantly clear if that applies to sweepstakes games, operators have decided to stay out of the Silver State.

States Where Anti-Sweepstakes Bills Failed

Florida | Mississippi | Maryland | Arkansas

Two anti-sweepstakes bills failed to advance in Florida this year. Bill HB 1467 made it ed the House but died in the Senate, while SB 1404 never made it out of the Senate, dying in the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government. 

The SPGA celebrated both bills dying, calling it a "significant win for consumer choice and common sense".

Mississippi's SB 2510 nearly got over the line, ing the Senate unanimously with a 51-0 vote before clearing the House 83-19 (and 18 missing votes). But when the bill was returned to the Senate from the House, it was carrying an amendment relating to sports gambling that ultimately killed the bill in conference.

In Maryland, SB 860 ed the Senate with a 47-0 vote but didn't make it through the legislative session in the House, killing the bill.

Finally, in Arkansas, HB 1861 sought to legalize igaming but ban sweepstakes games. However, the bill had little and was withdrawn in order to study the issue further. 

Montana Becomes State To Specifically Ban Sweepstakes Games

Recently, Montana became the first state to ban sweepstakes games. SB555, which prohibits "internet gaming" such as sweepstakes games. The bill faced little opposition ing the Senate 40-8 on its third reading and 88-11 on its third reading in the House. 

The SPGA condemned the bill for its vague language, saying: "Montana just criminalized everyday digital promotions".

Why Are States Banning Sweepstakes Games?

Since PASPA was repealed in 2018, most states have opened up to sports betting and have needed to address their gambling laws while doing so. That new attention has brought those who live outside of state regulations, such as sweepstakes games, into focus.

States see this as an affront to the work they've done to establish clear rules for gambling within their borders, as well as their ability to pull in millions in taxes on gross gaming revenues.

Now, the SPGA maintains that its operate legally in the US.

The SPGA and its have gone on the record to say they are willing to officially fall within state regulations, but rather than approach sweepstakes operators who provide a product that is enjoyed by nearly 55 million Americans, states have instead opted to prohibit the practice.