Pennsylvania Rep. Russ Diamond introduced HB 2801 on September 24, 2026, a bill that would make it illegal to operate, conduct or promote online sweepstakes games in the state. Violations would carry fines of $50,000 to $500,000 each.
What happened
HB 2801 sits in the House Gaming Oversight Committee. The sweepstakes language is part of a longer 161-page gaming overhaul rather than a stand-alone bill, which both broadens its political support and makes it easier to amend out of recognition in committee. Beyond the ban itself, it would give the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the Attorney General explicit authority to investigate operators and issue cease-and-desist orders — the enforcement machinery that states like Illinois and Tennessee have used without a dedicated statute.
Pennsylvania is one of the seven states with a regulated real-money online casino market, and its licensed operators have lobbied against sweepstakes sites for two years. That makes passage more likely than in states with no iGaming industry to protect. The catch is the calendar: the legislative session ends November 30, 2026, leaving about nine weeks for a committee vote, two floor votes and the governor’s signature.
The word “promote” matters. As drafted, the bill reaches affiliates and advertisers, not only operators, which follows the Louisiana model — see our analysis of who the Louisiana law reaches.
What it means for players
- Nothing changes yet. Sweepstakes casinos that accept Pennsylvania continue to operate.
- If the bill passes before November 30, expect the same pattern as Indiana and Maine: operators switch Pennsylvania to Gold Coins-only on the effective date and give a redemption window of two to four weeks.
- Pennsylvania players already have a legal alternative in licensed online casinos, which is exactly why this bill has momentum.
What happens next
A committee hearing has not been scheduled. If HB 2801 does not clear both chambers by November 30, it dies and would need to be reintroduced in the 2027 session.
See also
- Pennsylvania General Assembly: HB 2801 (2025–2026 Regular Session)
- Casino Reports: Pennsylvania latest state with proposal to ban sweepstakes (Oct 12, 2026)
- SBC Americas: Pennsylvania sweepstakes casinos ban faces tight calendar (Oct 14, 2026)
- Gambling Insider: Sweepstakes casino monthly update (Sep 2026)
General information compiled from public sources, not legal advice. Laws change often. Reporting reflects information available on October 2, 2026.