A bill to ban sweepstakes gambling in Louisiana just cleared the state Senate with a 39-0 vote, targeting a wide range of industry participants. If signed into law, SB 181 would take effect on August 1 and include some of the strongest penalties proposed by any state so far.
Good to know
- SB 181 includes fines up to $100,000 per offense and prison time of up to five years.
- The bill targets operators, suppliers, affiliates, influencers, and even investors.
- Louisiana joins several other states pushing forward anti-sweepstakes gambling bills.
Sweepstakes gambling platforms let users play with free coins, though users can also buy coins with money or cryptocurrency and cash out prizes. These sites often operate without a license and have drawn increasing criticism from state lawmakers.
Louisiana’s bill follows a trend. Similar bills are progressing in states like Connecticut and New York. In Connecticut, SB 1235 passed a Senate committee in March and most recently moved to legislative research and fiscal review after a 37-0 vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Meanwhile, New York’s Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee just passed Bill A06745, another proposal to ban sweepstakes casinos. It follows Senate Bill 5935, which also passed earlier this year through the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Commission.
Not everyone supports these crackdowns. The Social and Promotional Games Association argues that some legislation may go too far. The group defends sweepstakes as a standard marketing tool used by brands, restaurants, and app developers. They also express concern that these laws could affect loyalty programs used by airlines and hotels.
Still, most states pushing anti-sweeps legislation are moving forward without delay. Mississippi stands as one exception. There, bills to legalize online sports betting and ban sweepstakes gambling both failed in committee.
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