Key takeaways
- SGLA launches campaign against NY sweeps casino ban
- Indiana advances bill to ban sweeps casinos
- Illinois sees low compliance after sending cease-and-desist to operators
It’s been a busy week for sweeps casino regulators across the US. New York, Indiana, and Illinois are all making moves that could change the sweepstakes landscape in their state. We’re bringing you the latest headlines to stay up to date on what’s happening.
SGLA causing stir in New York following sweeps ban
The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance has launched a grassroots campaign urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to veto bill SB5935, which bans online sweepstakes casinos in New York state.
The SGLA is encouraging residents to contact Hochul through phone, email and social media, to pressure the governor to veto the bill. So far, more than 2,000 actions from New Yorkers contacting Hochul have been recorded.
This is the latest push from the SGLA to get states to properly regulate and tax sweeps casinos instead of banning them outright.
Indiana advances bill to ban sweeps casinos
Indiana has moved forward with their own anti-sweeps ban after HB1052 passed through the state legislature with a unanimous 10-0 vote.
An amendment was added to the bill before it passed, stating it would impose civil penalties instead of criminal ones to operators who violate the ban. Indiana is the latest state push to ban sweeps casinos, following bans in New York and California last year.
Several members of the House committee have voiced their desire to regulate the casinos rather than banning them, a move supported by the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance.
Illinois sees low compliance on cease-and-desist efforts
Two weeks after sending out cease-and-desist letters to 65 sweeps casinos, Illinois has seen a compliance rate of just 3%.
Only 2 of the 65 operators who received the letter have updated their terms to restrict Illinois players. Jumbo 88 and JefeBet now list Illinois as a restricted state on their websites. There’s been no response yet from other major casinos like Chumba, Stake.us, WOW Vegas, and McLuck.
Other states like Tennessee and West Virginia have had more positive outcomes with cease-and-desist letters, resulting in more than 40 casinos leaving those states. So far, Illinois does not appear to be mirroring their success.
