Sweepstakes casinos are counting their days in Indiana after Gov. Mike Braun signed their ban into law last week.
Indiana is the first state to get a sweepstakes ban across the finish line in 2026. The ban begins July 1.
Along with the first ban of 2026, Virginia became the first state with bills that would ban sweepstakes casinos to not take action against the industry this year. The legislature adjourned Saturday without passing online casino legislation, which included the language to ban sweepstakes.
Multiple other states that have ban bills in play, including Maine, Minnesota and Tennessee, are still in session.
Sweepstakes could not be saved in Indiana
There were a few tries to regulate sweeps casinos this year in Indiana.
An amendment to HB 1052 in the House was never brought for a vote. The Senate, meanwhile, had sweepstakes supporters in high places, but it was not enough.
“Let me just say, I offered the amendment for the sweepstakes which regulated and taxed it that I thought would be appropriate but got a tremendous amount of feedback of ‘no go,’ particularly with leadership with both chambers as well, it was really going to be dead on arrival back to Public Policy members of the House of Representatives,” Chairman Ron Alting said during a meeting of his Senate Public Policy Committee.
Indiana seventh state to pass ban bill since 2025
Indiana is the seventh state to put a sweeps casino ban on the books since the beginning of 2025.
California, Connecticut, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada and New York all formally banned sweepstakes casinos last year.
Other states have acted without legislation. Louisiana’s legislature did pass a bill but it was vetoed by the governor and quickly followed by cease-and-desist letters from the attorney general’s office.
