Deputy Editor
Sweepstakes gambling bans are making legislative progress in Mississippi and Iowa. The Mississippi State Senate unanimously passed a bill on Wednesday, while Iowa’s effort to banish the controversial “social gaming” products also made progress, with parallel pieces of legislation in each chamber emerging from their respective committees.
Both join the growing number of states taking a legislative approach to drive out sweepstakes poker rooms and casinos. So far in 2026, Indiana and Louisiana have already examined anti-sweeps legislation, the latter taking the unique approach of including sweepstakes violations as predicate crimes for racketeering charges.
More conventionally, other states have tended to either pass outright bans on sweepstakes gambling or issue cease-and-desist orders to operators. The latter has the advantage of speed, eliminating the need for lengthy legislative debate. Tennessee used that tactic to evict operators in November, including some prominent poker sweepstakes operators.
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Mississippi Anti-Sweepstakes Bill Progressed Swiftly Through Senate
Mississippi introduced SB 2104 in January. It features bipartisan sponsors and passed unanimously on Wednesday, 52-0.
The bill classifies “online sweepstakes casinos” and “internet sweepstakes cafes” as illegal gambling. It establishes penalties of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison. It contains carveouts for “lawful marketing promotions” that are “unrelated to digital tokens, coins, or currency.”
Any online, interactive, or computerized version of any game as defined in Section 75-76-5(k) or any other game of chance or digital simulation thereof, including, but not limited to, online race books, online sports pools, and online sweepstakes casino-style games, is hereby declared to be a gambling device, and the offering for play or operating an online or interactive platform that offers for play such games within the State of Mississippi shall be deemed unlawful under the provisions of this section.
SB 2104 would take effect on July 1.
Mississippi has legal casinos and sports betting, but it doesn’t have online markets for either one. A similar effort in Mississippi failed last year after legal online sports betting was attached to the bill. This year, however, those two issues are confined to separate bills.
Iowa Anti-Sweeps Bills Clear Early Hurdles
Both Iowa legislative chambers are early in the process with anti-sweepstakes bills. In both cases, the bills cleared early committee hurdles, putting them on track for possible eventual passage.
The Iowa State Senate State Government Subcommittee recommended the passage of SB 3040. Among other actions, it allows the state commission to issue cease-and-desist orders “against a person offering games of chance, gambling, sports wagering, or illegal sweepstakes…” It establishes such violations as a class D felony.
House companion bill, Iowa HSB 586, made identical progress through a subcommittee.
At present, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is on the record saying it doesn’t feel it has the authority to take action against any entity aside from those whom it currently licenses. The regulator wishes to enhance its ability to provide consumer protections against sweepstakes operators. The IRGC commissioner called such operators “illegal gambling.” She noted that the commission has received complaints of scams, but it can do little aside from warn state residents to thoroughly vet any operators before signing up.
Image credit: Ken Lund/Flickr (license)
