Key takeaways
- Indiana bill HB1052 signed into law banning sweeps casinos
- Minnesota introduces its own sweeps ban bill with SF 4474
- Sen Ron Watson withdraws bill to regulate sweeps casinos in Maryland
Things are not looking good for US sweeps fans as three more states have moved to ban them completely. We’ve rounded up the latest developments happening in Indiana, Minnesota, and Maryland this week.
Indiana governor signs sweeps ban into law
Indiana governor Mike Braun signed bill HB1052 into law last week, officially making sweepstakes casinos illegal in the state. The bill had met with overwhelming support when it reached the house in February, with a 10-0 vote in favor of a statewide ban.
The bill affects free-to-play casinos that operate on a dual-currency model. However, unlike some other states, sweepstakes-style poker sites like Global Poker will still be able to operate legally in Indiana.
Sean Ostrow, managing director of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, has already voiced his disapproval with Gov. Braun’s decision. The SGLA works to regulate sweepstakes casinos rather than banning them outright.
Minnesota introduces bill to ban sweeps casinos
Minnesota is making its own moves towards banning sweeps casinos, with the introduction of bill SF 4474. Four senators introduced the bill to the state legislature on March 17, which would outlaw all dual-currency sites that simulate casino and sports betting.
This comes just a few months after Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellision sent cease-and-desist letters to 14 offshore sweeps casinos who operate within the state. Sites that received the letter include Zula Casino, Fortune Coins, and BetWhale.
If the bill is signed into law, MN players will have few online gaming options available to them. Real-money online casinos are not legal in the state, leaving many players to seek out sweeps casinos instead.
Sweeps casino legislation stalled in Maryland
Maryland won’t see any online gambling legalized in the state this year, after Senator Ron Watson withdrew a bill that would regulate the sites instead of banning them outright.
Watson has been a vocal supporter of regulated online gambling in Maryland, introducing two bills to the house in February. The second bill, SB 885 remains in place, but is unlikely to move forward without the first bill (SB 761).
There are two other house bills aiming to ban sweeps casinos entirely in MD. One of them, HB 295, just passed on March 20 with a vote of 105-24. The legislative session ends on April 13, leaving just two weeks for the bills to move forward.
