Key takeaways
- SGLA releases report on benefits of sweeps casino legislation in Virginia.
- SGLA managing director Sean Ostrow expresses disappointment in Indiana’s vote on House Bill 1052.
- Regulated sweeps casinos could bring in $30 million of annual revenue in Virginia, $20 million in Indiana.
Sweeps players in Virginia and Indiana can learn more about the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance’s latest findings in their efforts to regulate free-to-play casinos, after the group released their most recent report.
The SGLA partnered with research firm Eilers & Krejcik to study the positive effects of a regulated sweeps casino market in Virginia. The SGLA maintains that regulating sweeps casinos rather than banning them would keep the thriving industry alive in US states, bringing in jobs as well as millions of dollars in revenue.
The report follows the SGLA’s response to Indiana House Bill 1052 advancing in the state legislature. Managing director Sean Ostrow released the following response to the bill, stating “We are disappointed with the committee’s vote but remain committed to working collaboratively with Indiana lawmakers to protect consumers, support local businesses, and preserve access to these popular games for adults who enjoy them.”
Right now, more than 340,000 players enjoy playing games at social casinos in Virginia, and there are 220,000 players in Indiana. A regulated sweeps industry has the potential to bring in $30 million and $20 million in annual revenue respectively in each state, through purchase taxes and operator fees.
The SGLA argues that while current gambling legislation is largely incompatible with the realities of the sweeps market, legalizing sweeps casinos would be better in the long run than outright bans. Another study released by the SGLA shows that 84% of Americans agree with changing the existing laws to regulate social casinos.
Some legislators claim that sweeps casinos take revenue away from real-money casinos, but players can look to other states to see that this is typically not the case. Michigan, for example, banned the sweeps market in 2024 but has seen little increase in business for regulated casinos since then.
For now, players in both states can continue to access sweeps casinos and play games for free, but should keep an eye out for any upcoming changes. In Indiana, if HB 1052 passes into law, sweeps casinos could leave the state by July 1, 2026, affecting thousands of player accounts.
