Two bills in Louisiana that would establish the state as arguably the most restrictive toward sweepstakes casinos in the country both took big steps forward late last week.
House Bill 53, which would classify sweepstakes gaming under racketeering law, received its first Senate committee assignment after passing through the full House on March 31. And House Bill 883, which would officially outlaw any dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, advanced to the final step required to pass out of the House.
Louisiana already has one of the country’s toughest stances on sweeps gaming.
Latest updates on HB53 and HB883
HB53 was assigned to the Senate Judiciary C Committee, and it’s slated for a hearing before that committee at 10 a.m. local time on April 14. To get to this point, the bill has passed through the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice via a 12-0 vote and then via an 87-11 vote in the full House.
As for HB883, last Wednesday, that bill unanimously (8-0) cleared the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice and on Thursday was fast-tracked through its first and second readings, advancing directly to its third reading, after which a bill is usually voted upon.
Both these bills have moved quickly since Louisiana began its 2026 legislative session on March 9. That session ends on June 1 and the crossover deadline is May 29. So there’s plenty of time for both bills to clear all the necessary steps.
Details on what the bills entail
If passed, HB883 would formalize the stance already signaled by Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill — that dual-currency gaming models are illegal under state law.
The bill never mentions “sweepstakes” but rather redefines illegal online gambling by focusing on the use of a “dual-currency system.” Under the language, any casino-style online game, contest, or promotion that uses two forms of currency could be deemed illegal if either currency can be redeemed for cash, prizes, or similar rewards.
This definition closely mirrors how most sweepstakes casinos operate. These platforms typically rely on two currencies: Gold Coins, which are purchased and have no real-world value, and Sweeps Coins, which can’t be bought but can be redeemed for cash.
HB883 mirrors other bills in other markets, with a focus on banning dual-currency gaming.
HB53, however, is the first of its kind. In terms of enforcement, this legislation is stronger than standard legislative bans, which are already stronger than cease-and-desist orders.
The bill pulls a range of gaming-related offenses — including “gambling by computer” — into the state’s racketeering statutes, treating them as part of broader criminal enterprises rather than standalone violations.
Landry and Murrill have already indicated that using Sweeps Coins amounts to illegal online gambling in their interpretations of state law. That interpretation may place sweepstakes casinos under the “gambling by computer” category. But that interpretation won’t even matter if HB883 passes, as that would officially outlaw dual-currency sweepstakes gaming in Louisiana and categorize it as online illegal gambling.
Current status of sweeps gaming in Louisiana
At this point, many major sweepstakes casino brands have either pulled out of Louisiana or at least removed their Sweeps Coin offerings. That fact is largely thanks to what happened last June, when the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Attorney General’s office sent cease-and-desist notices to nearly 40 sweeps operators.
It also reflects Landry’s position that current law already bans sweeps platforms — a view that led him to veto a sweeps ban bill that passed the legislature in 2025. That logically leads one to wonder if he’d make the same decision should HB883 pass in 2026.
Landry’s reasoning in 2025?
“This bill attempts to criminalize certain secondary gambling activities on the internet that are already prohibited in Louisiana,” he said in a note about his decision to veto.
That July, Murrill released a seven-page opinion on the illegality of sweeps casinos.
Regulators have also turned to the courts. In September, the Louisiana Department of Revenue filed suit against VGW — the owner of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Global Poker, LuckyLand Casino, and soon-to-launch United Slots — as well as MW Services Limited (WOW Vegas owner), alleging roughly $44 million in unpaid taxes, interest, and penalties.
