Matthew Bain
Matthew Bain has covered the legal gambling landscape in the US since 2022, both as a content director at Catena Media and now as a freelancer for Comped and Sweepsy. Before that, he spent six years as a sports reporter and editor for the USA TODAY Network, primarily at the Des Moines Register. Through his various roles, Matthew has racked up experience in the casino, sports betting, and lottery markets.
Articles by Matthew Bain
- News
Racketeering, Dual-Currency Sweeps Bills Take Big Steps In Louisiana
HB53 and HB883 gain momentum in Louisiana, signaling one of the toughest crackdowns yet on sweepstakes casinos and dual-currency gaming
Apr 12, 2026 - News
Investing Expert: If Playtika Wants To Sell, Could A Sweeps Operator Buy It?
Playtika may be for sale again, with one analyst suggesting a sweepstakes gaming company could be a surprising buyer to unlock hidden value.
Apr 12, 2026 - News
Committee Deadline Waived For Minnesota Sweeps Ban As It Clears Another Hearing
Minnesota advances bill to ban sweepstakes casinos after suspending deadline, sending SF4474 to Finance Committee for further review.
Apr 12, 2026 - News
New Washington, DC Bill Would Ban Sweeps Casinos, Legalize iGaming
Council Bill 260656 would tax iGaming operators in Washington, DC at 25% and outlaw any "dual-currency gaming product" in the District.
Apr 10, 2026 - News
Minnesota Sweeps Ban Bill Still Active, Passes 3rd Committee
Minnesota sweepstakes casino ban advances unanimously, with debate as one lawmaker calls it “narrowly tailored” to protect state law.
Apr 9, 2026 - News
Maine Gov. Janet Mills Signs Sweeps Ban Into Law
Legislative Document 2007 will take effect in early July, meaning we'll likely see many sweeps casinos leave Maine before then.
Apr 7, 2026 - News
Oklahoma Inching Closer To Becoming 3rd State To Ban Sweeps In 2026
Oklahoma SB1589 clears House Criminal Judiciary Committee, advancing effort to classify sweeps casinos as illegal online gambling.
Apr 7, 2026 - News
Critical Bill Hearings In Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee This Week
Bills in multiple states — Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Tennessee — will get one step closer to potentially passing in 2026.
Apr 6, 2026 - News
Maine Legislature Passes Bill Banning Sweeps Casinos
Maine sends sweeping LD2007 ban on sweepstakes casinos to Gov. Janet Mills after narrow House vote, with enactment likely this summer.
Mar 26, 2026 - News
After Passing House, Maryland Sweeps Bans Quickly Set For Senate Committee Hearings
Maryland rapidly sends two sweeps casino ban bills to Senate hearings, setting up key decisions ahead of the April 13 legislative deadline.
Mar 25, 2026 - News
Maryland House Passes 2 Sweeps Bills Right Before Crossover Deadline
Maryland House passes two bills targeting sweeps casinos before key deadline, keeping potential Sweeps Coins ban alive in 2026 session.
Mar 23, 2026 - News
Sweeps Bills In Minnesota, Louisiana Set For Hearings This Week
Minnesota sweeps casino bans advance quickly with hearings this week, while Louisiana weighs a racketeering approach targeting sweeps gaming.
Mar 22, 2026 - News
Monitoring Sweeps Bans In Maryland, Oklahoma As Crossover Deadlines Near
Maryland and Oklahoma face looming deadlines on sweepstakes casino bans, with key bills at risk of failing to advance this week.
Mar 22, 2026 - News
Tracking Market Exits From Notable Sweeps Operators In March
Carnival Citi, Spin Saga, Moonspin, and Rolling Riches exit multiple states as legal pressure continues to shape the sweeps casino market.
Mar 22, 2026 - News
How Louisiana Is Trying To Become Even More Restrictive For Sweeps Gaming
Louisiana moves to become one of the toughest states on sweeps casinos, with two bills to ban and aggressively enforce against the industry.
Mar 19, 2026 - News
Sweeps Casinos Get Legislative Wins In Virginia, Florida, Massachusetts
Sweeps casinos notch wins as 2026 bans fail to pass in Virginia, Florida, and Massachusetts, while Maryland bills are running out of time.
Mar 18, 2026 - News
Maine Committee Divided Over Bill Banning Sweepstakes Casinos
Maine lawmakers advance a sweepstakes casino ban with a divided committee report, as LD2007 targets the industry’s dual-currency model.
Mar 6, 2026 - News
Tennessee Senate Unanimously Passes Sweeps Casino Ban
Tennessee Senate passes SB2136, a bill banning sweepstakes casinos using broad “virtual currency” language. It now moves to the House.
Mar 6, 2026 - News
With Session Almost Over, Florida Bill That Could Raise Questions For Sweeps Casinos Clears 3rd Committee
Florida bill redefining online gambling advances, raising questions about whether sweeps casinos and Sweeps Coins could be deemed illegal.
Mar 5, 2026 - News
Sweeps Ban Bill Fails In Mississippi For 2nd Year In A Row
Mississippi’s sweepstakes casino ban bill stalls in House, marking the second straight year such legislation has failed.
Mar 4, 2026