Sweepstakes Casino Bans by State: Live Tracker
As of September 29, 2026, 12 states ban sweepstakes casinos and 13 more are restricted or under enforcement. This tracker lists every one with its bill number, effective date and source, plus a dated changelog.
Last updated September 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Tracker: banned and restricted states
| State | Status | Bill | Effective | Source | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Banned | AB 831 | January 1, 2026 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Connecticut | Banned | SB 1235 | October 2025 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Idaho | Banned | Art. III § 20 | Existing law | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Indiana | Banned | HB 1052 | July 1, 2026 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Louisiana | Banned | HB 53 / HB 883 | August 1, 2026 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Maine | Banned | LD 2007 | July 2026 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Montana | Banned | SB 555 | October 1, 2025 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Banned | A5447 | August 15, 2025 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| New York | Banned | — | December 2025 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Banned | SB 1589 | November 1, 2026 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Tennessee | Banned | HB 1885 / SB 2136 | May 22, 2026 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Washington | Banned | RCW 9.46.240 | Existing law | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Arizona | Restricted or uncertain | — | — | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Delaware | Restricted or uncertain | — | — | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Hawaii | Restricted or uncertain | — | — | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Illinois | Restricted or uncertain | — | March 2026 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Iowa | Restricted or uncertain | SF 2289 | July 1, 2026 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Maryland | Restricted or uncertain | — | — | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Michigan | Restricted or uncertain | — | — | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Restricted or uncertain | — | November 2025 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Nevada | Restricted or uncertain | SB 256 | October 1, 2025 | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | Restricted or uncertain | — | — | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Utah | Restricted or uncertain | — | — | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| Washington, D.C. | Restricted or uncertain | B26-0656 | — | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
| West Virginia | Restricted or uncertain | — | — | Sweepsy · Info Law | September 29, 2026 |
The other 26 states are generally available. See the full state table.
Changelog
- · Oklahoma: SB 1589 is scheduled to take effect.
- · Louisiana: HB 53 (Act 48) and HB 883 (Act 182) take effect.
- · Indiana: HB 1052 takes effect.
- · Louisiana: HB 53 and HB 883 signed.
- · Tennessee: HB 1885 / SB 2136 signed.
- · Oklahoma: Legislature overrides the governor’s veto of SB 1589.
- · Maine: LD 2007 signed.
- · Indiana: HB 1052 signed.
- · Illinois: Cease-and-desist letters sent to more than 60 operators.
- · California: AB 831 takes effect.
- · Tennessee: Cease-and-desist letters sent to about 40 operators.
- · New York: Ban signed into law, targeting operators and suppliers.
- · Minnesota: Cease-and-desist letters sent to 14 operators, including LuckyLand, Zula and Fortune Coins.
- · New Jersey: Bill A5447 takes effect, banning dual-currency sweepstakes operations.
- · Connecticut: SB 1235 signed, prohibiting casino-style sweepstakes gaming.
- · Louisiana: Cease-and-desist letters sent to multiple operators (June 2025).
- · Montana: SB 555 signed; the ban takes effect October 1, 2025 with felony penalties.
Sweepstakes Casino Bans by State: The 2026 List
Sweepstakes casinos have gone from a legal gray area to a target for lawmakers. This guide summarizes which states have acted, when, and what it means for players. Information is compiled from public sources as of late September 2026 and changes quickly.
States with bans in place
Twelve states are listed as banned in the sources we track, either through new statutes or existing gambling law:
- California: AB 831, effective January 1, 2026
- Connecticut: SB 1235, signed June 2025
- Idaho: existing constitutional prohibition on simulated casino gaming
- Indiana: HB 1052, effective July 1, 2026
- Louisiana: HB 53 and HB 883, effective August 1, 2026
- Maine: LD 2007, effective July 2026
- Montana: SB 555, effective October 1, 2025
- New Jersey: A5447, effective August 15, 2025
- New York: law signed December 2025
- Oklahoma: SB 1589, effective November 1, 2026 after a veto override
- Tennessee: HB 1885 / SB 2136, signed May 22, 2026
- Washington: existing law (RCW 9.46.240)
Restricted or uncertain states
Several other states are not formally banned but see enforcement or heavy operator restrictions. Illinois, Minnesota and Maryland have seen cease-and-desist letters. Iowa passed a law in 2026 that prohibits unlicensed sweepstakes. Nevada increased penalties, Michigan and Pennsylvania have regulated online casino markets, and Delaware, Hawaii, Utah and West Virginia are treated as uncertain. Washington, D.C. has a bill pending.
Bills that failed or stalled
Not every bill has passed. Ban bills failed in Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi and Virginia in 2026, and several remain in committee, including in Missouri and Ohio. Some of these could return in 2027 sessions.
What this means for players
- Operators block banned states, so you may not be able to sign up or redeem there.
- Using a VPN or false details to bypass location checks breaks the terms and can cost you your account and prizes.
- If you move, check the new state’s rules and the casino’s terms before you play.
- Always confirm on the operator’s own terms page: policies change faster than any guide.
Where to check your state
We keep a page for all 50 states and D.C. with the law, effective date and status. Start at our state-by-state guide. This is general information, not legal advice.