Five States, Three Days: Sweepstakes Casino Bills Hit Decisive Stage in Late March 2026

Between 30 March and 1 April 2026, five states brought sweepstakes casino bills to a decisive stage. Maine is the closest to reaching a conclusion, while Maryland is considering two bills simultaneously. Louisiana has linked the model to racketeering law, while Iowa and Minnesota are following a similar path. This report tracks these developments, offering a brief overview of the current status of each bill.

Maine Leads the Pack With Ban on Governor’s Desk

Of the five states, Maine has made the most progress towards implementing a ban. Legislative Document 2007, formally titled ‘An Act Regarding the Prohibition of Online Sweepstakes Games’, has passed through both chambers of the legislature and is now on Governor Janet Mills’ desk awaiting her signature. The bill classifies sweepstakes casinos as unlawful gambling and introduces fines and penalties for operators. If she were to approve it within the next 10 days, Maine would become one of the first states to formally close the model by 2026.

Maryland Pursues Twin-Track Approach: Regulation and Criminal Penalties

Maryland took action on two fronts almost simultaneously. While HB 1226 was referred to a Senate committee on 31 March for consideration of granting regulatory enforcement authority over sweepstakes operators, HB 295 was referred to a separate committee the following day for consideration of introducing criminal penalties for ‘interactive games’. Together, the two bills aim to provide Maryland with regulatory control and a criminal framework should operators continue to operate in the state.

Louisiana Ties Sweepstakes Operators to Racketeering Law

Of the five states, Louisiana opted for the most aggressive course of action. On 30 March, House Bill 53 was introduced to the House of Representatives, proposing an amendment to the racketeering law to include ‘gambling by computer’ and ‘electronic sweepstakes devices’. If passed, sweepstakes casino operators would be subject to the same criminal enforcement framework used for organised gambling offences. The legal consequences of this would differ from those of a regulatory penalty or licensing dispute.

Iowa and Minnesota Advance Through Committee Stages

Iowa and Minnesota are a step behind in the legislative process, yet they are ultimately travelling in the same direction. Ahead of the 1 April session, Iowa’s SF 2289 was referred to a House Ways and Means subcommittee. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s SF 4474 has been approved by two committees and is awaiting its next Senate hearing. Neither bill has yet been put to a floor vote, but both focus on enforcement in the same way as the bills in Louisiana and Maryland.

Late March Push Signals Broader Legislative Momentum

The events that unfolded across these five states over three days are indicative of a broader shift that has been developing since early 2026. Bills that were in the early stages of committee weeks ago are now on governors’ desks and on the House floor, scheduled for final hearings. The next few weeks will now reveal how many of these bills will become law.

Other Sources / References

1. Brogan, J. (2026, March 30). Strict gambling laws to hit 28 US states in 2026 including ‘micro-bet’ bans. The US Sun. Link
2. McNally, P. (2026, March 27). Maine legislature passes bill banning online sweepstakes casinos. ReadWrite. Link
3. National Today. (2026, March 30). Maine bans sweepstakes casino websites. Link