It’s been announced that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (pictured) has signed HB 53 and HB 883 into law, two bills that relate to the legality of sweepstakes casinos in the Pelican State.
HB 53 passed the legislature on April 27 and HB 883 did the same on May 12, and since then the industry has been waiting on Landry’s decision. Now, according to official records, HB 53 was signed into law on May 11 and HB 883 followed on May 15. Both measures are set to take effect on August 1, 2026.
What Does HB 883 Do?
Both bills interact with each other, so it’s worth breaking HB 883 down first.
It amends the Louisiana Revised Statute 90.3 and expands the definition of “gambling by computer” to include dual-currency sweepstakes systems, the type used by platforms like McLuck, Chumba, and Stake.us.
The updated definition reads:
“Any game, contest, or promotion that is available on the internet or accessible on a mobile phone, computer terminal, or similar access device that utilizes a dual-currency system of payment allowing the player to exchange the currency for any prize or award, cash, or cash equivalents, or any chance to win any prize or award, cash, or cash equivalents, and simulates any form of gambling constitutes gambling by computer.”
The statute already says gambling by computer is a violation of Louisiana law, but this change now broadens the definition of illegal online gaming to capture sweepstakes-style models definitively.
HB 883 also extends liability across the wider supply chain, including platform providers, geolocation services, gaming content suppliers, and other partners.
It also includes language relating to users themselves. Under current law, the customer is already covered, but HB 883 clarifies that definition:
“‘Client’ means anyone physically located within this state using a computer to access a computer server to make gambling by computer wagers.”
The result is that sweepstakes casino operators, supply chain members, and even customers would all be breaking the law to use such platforms. This is some of the harshest language aimed at the sweeps vertical in the whole country.
But Wait, Louisiana Isn’t Done Yet
Moving onto HB 53, this is a much more straightforward bill that moves certain crimes under racketeering laws:
“(89) R.S. 14:90 (Gambling)
(90) R.S. 14:90.2 (Gambling in public)
(91) R.S. 14:90.3 (Gambling by computer)
(92) R.S. 14:90.6 (Gambling or wagering at cockfights)
(93) R.S. 14:90.7 (Gambling by electronic sweepstakes device)
(94) R.S. 14:90.8 (Unlawful wagering; prohibited player)
(95) R.S. 14:118.1 (Bribery of sports participants)”
As we can see, this list includes the newly edited “gambling by computer”.
Racketeering laws refer to broader organized crimes, allowing authorities to chase coordinated illegal activity rather than single offences. In practice, this raises the seriousness of the crime and the potential penalties.
Taken together, these measures leave very little room for interpretation and amount to some of the most tightly drafted anti-sweeps laws seen in the US so far.
The irony is that no legitimate sweepstakes operators do business in Louisiana since the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) made moves last year including a wave of cease-and-desist letters. And this was after Landry vetoed an anti-sweeps bill similar to HB 883 (SB 181), as he stated that LA already had the laws in place to handle sweeps casinos. Perhaps Landry decided that Louisiana does want these concepts firmly enshrined in law after all.
Now Louisiana will certainly be off limits for legitimate sweepstakes operators, and players too should be careful not to engage with any illegal sweepstakes platforms, as the law clearly brings them into scope.
This makes four states that have signed off on anti-sweeps laws in 2026, the others being Indiana, Maine, and Oklahoma. We still wait for a decision on SB 2136 in Tennessee.
Author: Joseph Allen
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