Indiana Anti-Sweeps Legislation Passes Out Of House Committee

Indiana House Bill 1052, which would ban sweepstakes casinos in the Hoosier State, passed out of the lower chamber’s Public Policy Committee with minor amendments Thursday by a unanimous 10-0 vote.

The original bill, sponsored by Public Policy Chairman and state Rep. Ethan Manning, established definitions of a sweepstakes game and both the civil and criminal penalties for violating state law. The amendments Manning offered, passed by consent, changed the definition of a sweepstakes game from “dual-currency” to “multi-currency” and removed the criminal penalties.

Online sweeps operators continue to be targeted after multiple states enacted legislation in 2025 to ban them, most notably California, New York, and New Jersey. Maryland and Virginia are also considering sweeps bans, while New Jersey may reverse course and regulate operators with a bill re-filed for that purpose earlier this month.

Mayfield explains her reluctant yes

Prior to the full committee vote on the bill, Rep. Peggy Mayfield expressed frustration over certain aspects of the process. She felt that there hadn’t been enough discussion on sweeps in general, noting, “Three weeks ago, most of the people in this committee had never heard of sweepstakes gaming.”

Mayfield, who said she has taken meetings with stakeholders on both sides, felt the need for a bill that goes beyond a “technical correction,” since sweeps is a “substantive policy issue.” She felt that banning sweeps now would make it difficult to bring them back if “we end up modifying our other iGaming statutes.”

But her biggest point of contention has been the silence from the Indiana Attorney General’s Office on the subject. Mayfield noted the agency currently oversees sweepstakes and has declined to answer any inquiries, which she viewed as a “refusal to chime in … which gives me pause to vote” before saying she “very reluctantly votes yes on this bill.”

Attorneys general’s offices in both Louisiana and West Virginia effectively banned online casino sweepstakes operators last year, with Louisiana AG Liz Murrill offering a written opinion and West Virginia counterpart JB McCuskey serving subpoenas on operators.

A glimmer of hope for the SGLA

Mayfield’s hesitancy in wanting to see a larger picture could bode well for the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), which has been seeking avenues to negotiate with lawmakers to regulate their industry on a state-by-state basis.

After Thursday’s vote, SGLA Managing Director Sean Ostrow released a statement hoping lawmakers would consider the group’s proposal for regulation, estimating sweeps would bring $20 million in total annual revenue for the state.

“Social Plus games have been operating lawfully in Indiana since 2012 and are enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers,” Ostrow said. “Rather than a ban that would criminalize law-abiding businesses while doing nothing to stop illegal operators, we believe sensible regulation is the pragmatic pathway forward. 

“SGLA has proposed a regulatory framework that would generate over $20 million in annual revenue for Indiana while enforcing strict age verification, data privacy, and responsible gameplay protections. We are disappointed with the committee’s vote but remain committed to working collaboratively with Indiana lawmakers to protect consumers, support local businesses, and preserve access to these popular games for adults who enjoy them.”