The 2025 legislative session has been a busy one for the sweepstakes gaming industry.
In total, 11 states have introduced bills that would directly or in effect prevent online sweeps casinos from offering sweepstakes products. Now, five months into the year, we’re getting a better sense of which bills are worth watching.
One state passed a bill so far. Bills in four states failed. The remaining six are a mixed bag — one’s bill has been stuck in the committee stage since February, while a couple others are on the verge of passing.
In response to these bills, the Social and Promotional Games Association has consistently stressed two things: One, that most of their players make no purchases and are free-to-play social casino customers, and two, that regulation is the best path forward for all parties involved.
“The SPGA continues to call for fact-based policymaking and smart, balanced regulation that protects consumers, supports innovation, and allows millions of adult Americans to continue to enjoy free-to-play sweepstakes games safely and legally,” an SPGA spokesperson told Sweepsy.
Here’s a look at the 11 states and the status of their sweepstakes casino bills.
Passed: 1
Montana
So far, Montana is the only state that has passed its sweeps bill.
(Well, almost. Both legislative chambers have passed it, and it now awaits Gov. Greg Gianforte’s signature. It was sent to his desk on May 5. If he signs it, or, if he takes no action on it within 10 days, it will officially pass. He could also veto it, and a 2/3 majority vote in both chambers would be required to override that.)
Senate Bill 555 isn’t just about sweeps, though, and in fact it never mentions or addresses the sweepstakes industry. Instead, it uses just-vague-enough language in its change to the definition of internet gambling — which is illegal in Montana — that most industry experts agree Sweeps Coins (or whatever operators call their digital currency that can be redeemed for cash) is included.
“The term [internet gambling] includes online casinos, by whatever name known, which constitute internet gambling and therefore are prohibited,” the bill reads. This includes but is not limited to any platform, website, or application that knowingly transmits or receives gambling information, allows consumers to place a bet or wager using any form of currency, and makes payouts of any form of currency.”
“Any form of currency” will likely target things like Sweeps Coins and cryptocurrency.
Did not pass: 4
Mississippi
Mississippi’s bill technically passed in both legislative chambers. It first passed in the Senate. But the version that passed in the House was heavily amended — with the notable inclusion of online sports betting — and the Senate didn’t approve the amended version.
Maryland
Maryland’s bill, Senate Bill 860, ran out of time.
It passed via a 47-0 vote in the Senate but it didn’t see the Assembly floor by the time the legislative session ended on April 7.
Arkansas
In Arkansas, Rep. Matt Duffield included a ban on sweeps casino sites in his overall iGaming bill, House Bill 1861. The bill’s main purpose was to allow the state’s three retail casinos to offer online casino platforms. The sweeps component was secondary.
However, Duffield pulled the bill from consideration, and it was in turn recommended for study.
Opposition to legalizing iGaming is still staunch in the U.S., so Duffield likely sensed his bill had little chance of success in the current session. As a result, Arkansas’ sweeps ban flew off the table too.
Florida
There were two bills on the table in Florida, and both fell victim to the end of the state’s legislative session on May 2. One, House Bill 1467, did pass the House in late April but nothing came of it.
“The defeat of these bills continues a clear national trend,” an SPGA spokesperson said. “In the past few weeks, similar bills have been rejected in Arkansas, Maryland, and Mississippi.
“Lawmakers across the country are rejecting these anti-innovation, anti-business efforts that attempt to dictate what games American adults can play on their phones.”
Stuck: 1
Illinois
In Illinois, Senate Bill 1705 amends the state’s definition of gambling device in such a way that online sweepstakes gaming would be outlawed.
However, after bouncing around several committees from February through April, SB1705 now sits in purgatory after being re-referred to the Assignments Committee. With Illinois’ session ending May 31, this bill doesn’t seem to have much of a chance.
Active: 5
Connecticut
In Connecticut, Senate Bill 1235 would oust both sweeps casinos and lottery couriers.
It has passed through the committee stage with a pair of unanimous votes and it is now headed for the full Senate floor.
The legislative session ends on June 4, so there is less than a month for SB1235 to pass the Senate, pass the committee stage in the House, and then pass the House. So, although this bill seems to have some momentum, it’s by no means a done deal.
New Jersey
After sitting inactive since the middle of March, New Jersey’s Assembly Bill 5447 just had a hearing Thursday before the Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee, which approved it.
Ironically, the sponsor of AB5447, Assemblyperson Clinton Calabrese, introduced a bill in January that would have regulated sweeps gaming in New Jersey before pulling that bill in April.
The Sports Betting Alliance, which consists of BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook, has thrown its weight behind AB5447 and testified during Thursday’s hearing.
There’s plenty of time for this bill, as New Jersey’s legislature doesn’t adjourn until the end of the year.
SPGA’s take: “New Jersey has led the way in gaming regulation — not followed. With innovative licensing frameworks for digital entertainment, the state sets the standard. This smart, forward-thinking approach should continue, not be replaced by outdated prohibition.”
New York
There are two active bills in New York.
One, Senate Bill 5935, filed by iGaming advocate Sen. Joseph Addabbo, targets a “dual-currency system of payment” in its language. It’s passed the committee stage and recently received an amendment on its third Senate reading that would allow the New York State Gaming Commission to determine what exactly a dual-currency system is, seemingly in response to the SPGA’s claims the vague language could impact sweepstakes promotions in other regulated businesses like hotel and airline rewards programs.
The SPGA said the amendment turned SB5935 from a “mess” to a “catastrophe.”
The bill hasn’t had any movement since that amendment on April 30.
The other bill, SB5935’s companion in the Assembly, Assembly Bill 6745, also passed the committee stage on April 30 with no activity since.
New York’s legislative session ends June 12, so a lot of progress needs to be made in a little more than a month.
SPGA’s take: “SPGA calls on New York legislators to stop this reckless march toward economic self-sabotage and reject this deeply flawed bill before it inflicts lasting damage.”
Nevada
In Nevada, Senate Bill 256 strengthens enforcement against what it seems unlicensed operators, which would include sweepstakes sites.
Nevada’s legislative session ends in less than a month on June 2, but most bills protecting the state’s casino industry pass easily in the home of Las Vegas, so of all the active bills, this is the most likely to pass. It has already cleared the Senate unanimously and currently sits in the House Committee on Judiciary.
Louisiana
Louisiana Senate Bill 181 unanimously passed in the Senate in late April and on May 5 was assigned to the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice. The legislative session ends June 12 in Louisiana.
SPGA’s take: “SB181’s overly broad definitions could unintentionally criminalize loyalty and rewards programs run by some of the most respected brands in the country. Programs like Marriott Bonvoy, United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, and Hilton Honors often offer sweepstakes-style promotions and prize drawings as part of their customer engagement.”
