Mississippi Senate Passes Bill to Ban Online Sweepstakes Casinos
Senate Bill 2510 (SB 2510), which seeks to ban online sweepstakes-style gambling, passed the Mississippi Senate by a 44-1 vote and has now moved to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
What SB 2510 Proposes
The bill broadens the definition of gambling to include “online, interactive, or computer games”, officially classifying sweepstakes-style games as gambling devices. This change gives state regulators more power to shut down illegal operators.
SB 2510 also introduces stricter penalties. Previously, violations carried misdemeanor charges. Now, offenders face felony charges, fines of up to $100,000 per violation, and up to 10 years in prison. The bill also allows the state to seize assets linked to illegal gambling operations, strengthening enforcement.
“Crucially, the criminal penalties apply to both operators and promoters of online sweepstakes casino websites,” noted legal expert Daniel Wallach.
Unlike operators, players won’t face penalties. Senator Joey Fillingane, the bill’s sponsor, clarified that the goal is to enforce gambling laws against illegal platforms, not to punish users unaware of the restrictions.
Why Mississippi is Targeting Sweepstakes Casinos
The Mississippi Gaming Commission has struggled to enforce gambling laws against sweepstakes casinos. Regulators sent cease-and-desist letters to five major illegal operators, but those platforms continued operating. SB 2510 provides greater legal authority to shut down these businesses.
State lawmakers see unlicensed online gambling as a growing problem. By targeting operators and promoters, SB 2510 aims to prevent the expansion of illegal gambling platforms.
Although SB 2510 passed the Senate easily, a motion for reconsideration could lead to more debate before the final vote. However, unless major revisions occur, the bill appears likely to pass in the House as well.
Notably, SB 2510 does not affect legal sports betting in Mississippi. The state has allowed retail sports betting since 2018. At the same time, lawmakers in the House are working on a separate bill to expand online sports betting.
A First-of-Its-Kind Ban in the U.S.
Daniel Wallach noted that if the House passes SB 2510, Mississippi would become the first U.S. state to explicitly ban online sweepstakes casinos. He emphasized the severity of penalties under the bill, stating:
“Per SB 2510, each violation would be a felony, subject to a $100K fine, up to 10 years in jail, and a forfeiture of assets,” highlighted Wallach.
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