Louisiana Legislator Files Bill To Ban Sweepstakes Sites — And Target Related Entities

Louisiana Sen. Adam Bass has introduced SB 181, which is a series of amendments proposing to make online sweepstakes gambling illegal in the Pelican State.

Bass, whose district includes the popular casino destination Bossier City in the northwest part of Louisiana, is seeking to amend and reenact R.S. 1490 with a series of amendments that would include completely banning online sweepstakes play for casino, lottery, and mobile sports wagering. The text reads in part:

“Any games, contest or promotion that is available on the internet or accessible on a mobile phone, computer terminal, or similar access device that utilizes a dual-currency system of payment allowing the player to exchange the currency for any prize or award cash or cash equivalents, and simulates any form of gambling shall constitute illegal gambling by computer and shall not be considered a legal sweepstakes.

“Such forms of gambling shall include but not be limited to the following: (1) Casino-style gaming, such as slot machines, video poker, and table games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker. (2) Lottery games, including draw games, instant win games, keno, and bingo. (3) Sports wagering.”

Louisiana casinos generated $1.7 billion in adjusted gross revenue for Fiscal Year 2023-24, and the $1.14 billion AGR thus far in FY 2024-25 represents a 2% increase. Pelican State sportsbooks have claimed $320.5 million in AGR for the current fiscal year, an increase of 24.2% compared to the first eight months of FY 2023-24.

The state has collected $284 million in taxes from the two gaming verticals in the current fiscal year.

The bill goes much further than a simple ban

Bass’ amendments go far beyond a mere blanket ban on socials casinos with sweepstakes prizing. Fines for violating the law range from $10,000 to $100,000 along with a potential prison sentence of up to five years. The bill would make it “unlawful for any applicant, licensed, or permitted entity, gaming employee, officer or director of a licensed or permitted entity, any investor, or any other person or entity to operate, conduct, or promote games as described in this Section within the state.”

Bass extends that unlawful status to “any applicant, licensed or permitted entity, geolocation provider, gaming manufacturer, gaming supplier, platform provider, promoter, or media affiliate to provide support for the operation, conduct, or promotion of illegal gambling by computer, including illegal online sweepstakes games as described in this Section within the state.”

The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), which has spent much of this legislative session trying to combat such bills across multiple states, said in a statement it “vehemently opposes” SB 181, claiming the bill “recklessly misclassifies legitimate sweepstakes as illegal gambling.”

The SPGA took specific aim at Bass’ proposal to criminalize sweeps, noting that portion of the bill “discourages venture capital investment, potentially stifling the development of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

“This legislative overreach positions Louisiana as hostile to innovation, putting the state at a competitive disadvantage compared to more forward-thinking regions.”