Louisiana Pushes Sweepstakes Ban with New Bill SB 181

Aiming to Shut Down Dual-Currency Games

It’s a solid crackdown, hitting not just operators but the whole chain: geolocation providers, game makers, platform hosts, promoters, and affiliates. Fines range from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation, with jail time up to five years on the table.

The bill spells it out clearly. Any online game, contest, or promo using two currencies, one tradeable for real money, and acting like gambling gets the boot.

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board would enforce it, and violators could also face heat under the state’s unfair trade practices law, piling on civil and criminal penalties. Lawmakers want to choke off what they see as a sneaky workaround to regulated betting, and they’re not playing soft.

Pushback from the Industry

Not everyone’s cheering. The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) is pushing back hard, arguing SB 181 misfires by lumping legit promotional lotteries with shady gambling.

They say sweepstakes are a standard marketing trick and shouldn’t be banned. The group worries the bill’s fuzzy wording could snag loyalty programs like airline miles or hotel points, killing off legal businesses and stunting Louisiana’s tech scene. SPGA claims these games don’t threaten traditional casinos either, urging lawmakers to rethink it with industry input.

SPGA warns that a blanket ban could tank a chunk of the state’s digital economy without touching the $11 billion U.S. sports betting handle from 2024.

They’re calling for a smarter fix, rules that shield consumers without torching legit operations. Meanwhile, Louisiana’s Senate is also kicking around legalizing commercial online casinos, with committee talks already in motion, showing the state’s gambling future’s still up for grabs.

Penalties Pack a Punch

SOperators caught running these games face those hefty fines, $10,000 to $100,000 per pop, straight from the Gaming Control Board. Push it further, and it’s up to five years behind bars.

The bill’s broad reach nails anyone tied to the action, from tech suppliers to ad pushers, and tacks on unfair trade violations for extra sting. It’s a full-court press to wipe out sweepstakes gambling, no exceptions.

Louisiana’s not alone here. At least ten states have pitched sweepstakes bans in 2025, per reports. Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Mississippi, Connecticut, and Illinois are in the mix. Mississippi’s bill even cleared both chambers before fizzling out. It’s a nationwide wave, with states tracking these dual-currency games as a growing headache.