HB 1052 takes effect July 1, 2026, and makes operating casino-style online games played with a dual currency system illegal in Indiana
The days are officially numbered for any sweepstakes casino sites still accepting paid entries from people in Indiana. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has signed HB 1052, which imposes fines for operating sweepstakes casino sites.
Indiana breaks the ice on sweepstakes casino bans for 2026
While several states enacted legislation pertaining to sweepstakes casinos in 2025, Indiana is the first to do so in 2026. Braun’s signature on HB 1052 changes the state code in many ways, including outlawing online dual currency sweepstakes games.
Most of the statute involves alterations to other state regulations. The section that pertains to sweepstakes casino gaming is actually quite short.
The law defines a “sweepstakes game” as being held online, utilizing a dual currency system, and simulating casino gaming. It explicitly states that the section does not apply to any promotion offered by the Indiana Lottery or “peer-to-peer skill-based poker games.”
The statute empowers the Indiana Gaming Commission to levies fines of $100,000 to anyone found to be an “operator or individual who knowingly uses the Internet to conduct a sweepstakes game.”
The new language in the Indiana Code takes effect July 1. That gives sweepstakes casinos about three months to either alter their offerings for people in the state or geofence Indiana out of their addressable market.
Sweepstakes casinos face decisions in next three months
Several prominent sweepstakes casino brands have not yet publicized decisions in terms of how they will respond to Indiana’s new law. Announcements should be forthcoming, though.
Chumba Casino’s conditions and terms of use do not mention Indiana among the excluded jurisdictions at the time of this writing, as one example. The same is true of Stake.us, High 5 Casino, and McLuck Casino.
Platforms still operating in Indiana at this time could merely remove the dual currency component of their online offerings to comply with Indiana’s law, making their games truly social. However, that has not been the course of action for the majority of these sites.
Rather, these operators and others have chosen to stop doing business altogether in states like California and New York, which enacted sweepstakes casino bans in 2025. That suggests that they will hold to that pattern in regard to Indiana.
As real money online casinos are also unavailable in Indiana, people looking for legal ways to play slots and table games will be relegated to the land-based casinos in Indiana starting on July 1. However, some sweepstakes gaming operators are not yet giving up hope on returning to Indiana in the future.
SGLA calls for regulation to replace outright ban
The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, which is a trade group for companies operating sweepstakes casinos and other types of entertainment, released a statement regarding Braun’s signing of HB 1052.
“We are disappointed that HB 1052 has become law, but are grateful to the many Indiana lawmakers who engaged thoughtfully on the merits of regulating this long-standing industry. Despite the outcome, the legislative record shows meaningful bipartisan support for a smarter approach that embraces innovation and economic growth. We look forward to continuing to work with Indiana lawmakers on a regulatory framework for digital entertainment that protects the hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers that enjoy Social Plus games, while generating tens-of-millions in annual tax revenue.”
During the legislative process, Indiana Rep. Steve Bartels proposed an amendment to HB 1052 that would have created a regulated framework for sweepstakes casinos in the state instead of banning the games. However, that amendment was quickly rejected.
The rejection of regulation has been broad across several states that have enacted sweepstakes casino bans. Indiana now joins them to continue building momentum for other state governments considering similar proposals.
