States Banning Sweepstakes Casinos in 2026 — Which States Are Next?
Indiana, Maine, Montana, California, and New York have all banned sweepstakes casinos. Here's the full list of bans and which states are next in line.
The Growing Wave of Bans
Sweepstakes casinos have faced increasing legal scrutiny across the US. What began as a largely unregulated space is now seeing state after state either ban the model outright or push for tighter controls. Here's the current status.
States That Have Banned Sweepstakes Casinos
Largest market loss — ~20% of industry US revenue
Major market, significant revenue impact
First state to ban in the current legislative cycle
Smaller market but strong opposition to model
Bans unlicensed internet-based gaming models
Regulated online casino market; sweeps models restricted
Why Are States Banning Them?
The primary reasons states are moving to ban sweepstakes casinos:
- ▸Tribal gaming lobbies view sweepstakes casinos as unlicensed competition
- ▸State regulators argue the model too closely mirrors real-money gambling
- ▸Consumer protection concerns around the ease of purchasing Gold Coins
- ▸Loss of potential tax revenue since sweepstakes casinos don't pay gambling taxes
Which States Are Next?
Active legislation targeting sweepstakes casinos is currently advancing in: Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, Iowa, and Mississippi. Players in these states should enjoy access while they can and monitor local news.
What This Means For Players
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