Manning's Anti-Sweeps Bill Passes In Indiana House

Indiana state Rep. Ethan Manning's bill that would ban online sweepstakes casinos has moved to the Hoosier State's upper chamber after easy passage in the House on Monday.

House Bill 1052, which established definitions of a sweepstakes game and both the civil and criminal penalties for violating state law, passed by an 87-11 vote.

Manning, chairman of the House's Public Policy Committee, defines a sweepstakes game in the bill as a game, contest, or promotion that "utilizes a dual-currency or multi-currency system of payment," in which a player can exchange currency for a "cash prize, cash award, or cash equivalents; or a chance to win a cash prize, cash award, or cash equivalents."

The bill targets operators who simulate internet casino gaming, mobile sports wagering, video poker, lottery, and bingo. The Indiana Gaming Commission would have the ability to levy fines of up to $100,000 for operators who conduct such games or transactions for those games in the state.

Manning did strip a provision from his original version that also called for criminal penalties.

SGLA remains opposed, still hopes for regulation

Manning's bill advancing to the Senate may have resulted in a more narrow path for the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) in its bid to halt the bill in favor of regulating sweepstakes casinos. The group is again waging a multi-state battle to avoid legislative bans, after six states did so in 2025, most notably California, New York, and New Jersey.

In Indiana, the SGLA has proposed a regulatory framework it claims would generate $20 million in annual revenue. Additionally, the SGLA said that framework would also provide mechanisms for "enforcing strict age verification, data privacy, and responsible gameplay protections."