Latest Updates – SB 860 passed the Senate vote unanimously. Its sister bill will be reviewed in the House this week.
Lawmakers in Maryland state have filed two bills seeking to outlaw online sweepstakes casinos. The introduction of identical bills in both the Senate and House is seen as a resolve to move fast on the issue of sweepstakes sites in the Old Line State.
The intention of both SB0860 (filed by Senator Paul Corderman) and HB1140 (filed by Delegate Eric Ebersole) is to ban both the operation and promotion of online sweepstakes games. These are specifically defined within the bill as internet-based games that utilize “a dual-currency system of payment allowing the player to exchange the currency for any prize or award or cash or cash equivalents.”
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) would also be required to deny or revoke licenses for anyone involved in such activities. In terms of punishments, violators could face misdemeanor charges, with penalties including fines of $10,000 to $100,000 and imprisonment up to 3 years.
The bills go beyond simply targeting operators. They include punishments for other related groups, such as payment processors and media affiliates, stating they must not support the operation or promotion of sweepstakes casinos within Maryland.
Similar Actions
This news comes hot on the heels of the MLGCA announcing they sent cease and desist letters to over 10 operators they deem illegal. Interestingly, that list of operators included both offshore betting providers and sweepstakes sites (Zula, Golden Hearts, Stake.us, Rebet, McLuck, Fortune Coins), which are technically two distinct formats. Arizona’s Department of Gaming similarly grouped sweeps and offshore online casinos in its recent warning against online scams.
It also follows a renewed push for the legalization of traditional online casinos from certain lawmakers in Maryland. Last month, two such bills were filed, this time by Senator Ron Watson and Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary. However, similar efforts on this issue were made last year and ultimately stalled before any legislation passed.
All of this activity mirrors a trend in many other US states in 2025. Last month, Mississippi Senator Joey Fillingane filed Senate Bill 2510 seeking to ban sweepstakes operators in the Magnolia State. Then, the Connecticut General Law Committee filed a bill more recently on February 4th to ban sweepstakes, defined as featuring “real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering.”
The SPGA Takes a Stance
It seems anti-sweepstakes sentiment is rising at the state level, but this contested format is often lumped in with the clearly and demonstrably illegal offshore gambling industry. This is a point of contention for the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), a trade group representing sweepstakes operators in the US. They issued a statement soon after the filing of the Maryland bills stating:
“The Social and Promotional Games Association emphatically rejects the Maryland General Assembly Bill’s conflation of social sweepstakes with products that operate in illegal markets.”
“This bill is another unfortunate example of anti-competitive special interests bending the legislature to their will at the expense of innovation, small businesses, and the millions of consumers who enjoy the safe and engaging mobile games offered by social casinos.”
Operators, affiliates, and players will be watching closely to see whether Maryland’s efforts set a precedent for other states, or if the push for regulation will fizzle out once again. For now, sweepstakes casinos and their supporters remain steadfast, with groups like the SPGA continuing to advocate for legitimacy within the wider gaming landscape.
Author: Alex Windsor
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