Which US states have banned sweepstakes casinos? Live tracker covering Montana, Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, California, New York, Indiana, Maine, and states to watch.
The sweepstakes casino industry is under serious pressure. What started as a legal gray area across most of the United States has become a regulatory battleground. Eight states have now enacted bans or functional prohibitions, most of them within the last twelve months, and more are close behind. Montana fired the starting gun in May 2025. Maine, the most recent, signed its ban in April 2026.
This page tracks every state that has banned sweepstakes casinos, states with longstanding restrictions, and states where active legislation could push the count higher before 2026 ends. We update this tracker as new bills move.
| State | Bill | Signed | Effective | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | SB 555 | May 12, 2025 | October 1, 2025 | Active |
| Connecticut | SB 1235 | 2025 | October 1, 2025 | Active |
| Nevada | Enforcement law | 2025 | 2025 | Active |
| New Jersey | A5447 | August 15, 2025 | Immediate | Active |
| California | AB 831 | October 11, 2025 | January 1, 2026 | Active |
| New York | SB 5935A | December 8, 2025 | Early 2026 | Active |
| Indiana | HB 1052 | March 12, 2026 | July 1, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Maine | LD 2007 | April 6, 2026 | July 14, 2026 | Upcoming |
Montana was the first state in the country to pass a dedicated sweepstakes casino ban. Governor Greg Gianforte signed SB 555 on May 12, 2025, and the law took effect on October 1, 2025. The bill targets platforms that transmit gambling information, accept wagers, or pay out monetary equivalents, which captures the dual-currency sweepstakes model precisely.
Montana’s move set the template. The state does not have a regulated online casino market and it does not have a dominant tribal gaming coalition like California, which made the ban easier to pass politically. It gave legislators in other states a working precedent to point to.
Connecticut’s ban moved through the legislature quickly. SB 1235 passed the Senate 36-0 and became law later in 2025, taking effect on October 1 alongside Montana’s. Connecticut has a tightly controlled gaming market built around tribal compacts with Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, and both tribes operate regulated online casino platforms in the state. Sweepstakes platforms were operating as unlicensed competition, and the tribal coalition wanted them gone.
If you are a Connecticut resident, major sweepstakes platforms have geo-blocked the state and playing is no longer a legal option.
Nevada’s approach was different. Rather than passing an explicit ban, the state enacted enforcement legislation in 2025 that gave regulators significantly expanded authority to target and prosecute unregulated sweepstakes operators. The practical effect was the same: most major sweepstakes platforms pulled out of Nevada rather than risk enforcement action.
Nevada’s decision is notable because it is the first regulated gambling state to take this path. Expect others to copy the template, especially states that want to avoid the legislative fight over a direct ban.
Governor Phil Murphy signed A5447 on August 15, 2025. The bill prohibits dual-currency sweepstakes platforms that simulate casino-style games or sports wagering. Violations carry fines of up to $25,000 per incident, and enforcement is handled jointly by the Division of Gaming Enforcement and the Division of Consumer Affairs.
New Jersey was the first state to legalize online casinos back in 2013, and its licensed operators have one of the most organized lobbying presences in the country. The ban is part of a broader effort to protect the regulated market from unlicensed competition.
California set the template for aggressive state-level enforcement. AB 831 passed unanimously in both chambers, with a 36-0 vote in the Senate and 63-0 in the Assembly, before Governor Newsom signed it into law on October 11, 2025. The driving force was the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) and allied tribal gaming coalitions. With over 70 tribal casinos in the state and no legal online casinos or sports betting, tribal operators viewed sweepstakes platforms as unlicensed competition.
The penalties under AB 831 are severe. Operating, promoting, or supporting a sweepstakes casino targeting California residents is a criminal misdemeanor, carrying up to one year in jail and fines of $25,000 per offense. What makes California’s law stand out is the breadth of liability. The bill reaches beyond operators to include vendors, payment processors, geolocation providers, and media affiliates who “knowingly and willfully” support sweepstakes platforms in the state.
All major sweepstakes casino platforms have geo-blocked California residents. For a full breakdown, read our California ban explainer. To see what entertainment options remain, check our California alternatives guide.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed SB 5935A on December 8, 2025. New York’s ban is part of a broader strategy to bring online gaming under state control through a licensed regulatory framework, rather than a tribal coalition push. New York has been actively developing plans to launch regulated online casinos, and sweepstakes platforms represent unlicensed competition in a market the state wants to tax and regulate directly.
Major platforms have pulled out of New York. For more, read our New York ban explainer.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed HB 1052 on March 12, 2026. The ban does not take effect until July 1, 2026, which means Indiana players still have a short window before access is cut off, though some platforms may begin geo-blocking the state earlier.
The Indiana ban was pushed by the state’s licensed casino industry. Indiana has a well-established commercial casino market, and those operators argued that sweepstakes platforms were competing for the same customers without meeting licensing, tax, or regulatory requirements. The Indiana Gaming Commission will handle enforcement once the law kicks in.
If you are an Indiana resident, do not wait until the last minute. Redeem any outstanding Sweeps Coin balances and close out your accounts well before July 1. See our Indiana ban explainer for the full timeline.
Maine became the second state in the 2026 legislative cycle to ban sweepstakes casinos. Governor Janet Mills signed LD 2007 on April 6, 2026. Under Maine law, signed bills take effect 90 days after the legislative session ends, which puts the effective date at July 14, 2026.
LD 2007 prohibits operation and promotion of online sweepstakes games that use a dual-currency system. The ban covers sweepstakes-style products simulating slots, poker, bingo, lottery, and sports wagering. Maine residents have a window similar to Indiana’s to redeem balances and close accounts before the ban activates.
Not all restrictions are new. Three states have maintained gambling laws strict enough that most sweepstakes casino platforms have never operated there, or operate with limitations.
Washington has some of the broadest online gambling restrictions in the country. The state treats most forms of online gambling as a felony under RCW 9.46, and sweepstakes casinos have largely avoided the market entirely. Platforms voluntarily geo-block Washington residents rather than risk legal exposure.
Idaho maintains strict constitutional and statutory prohibitions on gambling that leave little room for the sweepstakes model. Most major platforms exclude Idaho from their service areas.
Michigan has a regulated online casino market. Some sweepstakes platforms choose to exclude Michigan to avoid potential conflicts with the state’s Gaming Control Board, but availability varies by operator.
Individual platforms may restrict states beyond the ones listed on this page. Always check the terms of service for any sweepstakes casino before creating an account.
Active legislation is moving in multiple states. Several of these could become the ninth, tenth, or eleventh state to ban sweepstakes casinos before the end of 2026.
Tennessee is the closest. SB 1862 passed the state Senate 32-0 and is now advancing through the House. If Tennessee signs, it becomes the third 2026-cycle ban after Indiana and Maine.
Maryland has twin bills (HB 1226 and HB 295) that both passed the House and are moving through the Senate. The legislation is well-positioned to pass this session.
Louisiana passed a ban in 2025 but Governor Jeff Landry vetoed it. A second bill, HB 53, would classify sweepstakes gaming as racketeering activity. It passed the Louisiana House 86-11 and is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Mississippi, Florida, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Virginia all have active ban legislation in earlier stages. State attorneys general in Illinois, Tennessee, and Minnesota have also issued cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes operators under existing consumer protection and gambling statutes, even without new legislation.
Pennsylvania runs one of the largest regulated online casino markets in the country. Licensed operators in PA generate billions in annual revenue and have clear incentive to push for restrictions on sweepstakes platforms. No bill has been formally introduced as of April 2026, but the conditions are present.
If you live in a state that has banned sweepstakes casinos, do not play. Platforms will geo-block you, and trying to get around restrictions with a VPN violates both state law and the platform’s terms of service. Accounts created through circumvention will be closed and any winnings forfeited.
If you live in a state where sweepstakes casinos are still legal, there is no immediate cause for alarm. The majority of US states have not banned sweepstakes platforms, and millions of players continue to use them without issue. But the ban count went from zero to eight in under a year. Pay attention to your state legislature, especially if you live in a state with tribal gaming operations, a licensed online casino market, or a state attorney general taking an aggressive posture on unlicensed operators.
For Indiana and Maine players specifically, the July 2026 deadlines are the most pressing concerns right now. Get your accounts squared away before those dates arrive.
The ban wave of 2025-2026 represents a turning point. For years, sweepstakes casinos operated on the argument that they offered entertainment through a promotional sweepstakes structure, not traditional gambling. That argument is losing ground fast. Eight states have now passed legislation that explicitly defines and bans the dual-currency model, and roughly a dozen more have bills in play.
The industry is heading toward a split outcome. Some states will continue banning sweepstakes casinos outright, following the California and New York template. Others may eventually create licensing frameworks that bring sweepstakes platforms under state regulation, complete with tax obligations and consumer protections similar to what licensed online casinos face. A third path, pioneered by Nevada, is enforcement-led prohibition without an explicit legislative ban.
For now, the patchwork continues. Each state is making its own decision, and the legal status of sweepstakes casinos depends entirely on where you live. This tracker will be updated as the situation evolves.
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