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Indiana’s Senate has advanced House Bill 1052, a wide-ranging proposal that now includes a formal ban on sweepstakes casinos. This comes days after the bill cleared the Senate committee with a unanimous 8-0 vote.
With changes made in the Senate, the bill now heads back to the House for review. Lawmakers face a tight calendar, with the session set to adjourn on February 27. If lawmakers reach an agreement, HB 1052 could be signed into law and take effect on July 1, making Indiana the first state in 2026 to formally outlaw online sweepstakes casinos through clear laws.
$100k penalties for violators
The measure defines what qualifies as a “sweepstakes game,” covering contests or promotions offered online, accessible through mobile devices or computers, and using dual‑currency or multi‑currency systems that allow players to exchange money for cash prizes or equivalents.
Games that simulate lottery draws, slow machines, video poker, table games, bingo, or sports betting fall under the definition, while state lottery products and peer-to-peer skill-based poker are excluded.
The legislation authorizes the Indiana Gaming Commission to enforce the ban and impose civil penalties of up to $100,000 on operators or individuals who knowingly conduct sweepstakes games over the Internet.
With changes made in the Senate, the bill now heads back to the House for review. If lawmakers reacher agreement, HB 1052 could be signed into law and take effect July 1, making Indiana the first state in 2026 to formally outlaw online sweepstakes casinos through clear statutory language.
House expanded sweeps definition, while Senate backed skill-based games
The definition of sweepstakes games shifted as the bill moved through the House. Lawmakers broadened the language, replacing “dual‑currency” with “dual‑currency or multi‑currency system of payment” and spelling out that players could exchange money for cash prizes, awards, or equivalents.
The House also made clear that these games must be offered online and accessible through phones or computers, while expanding the list of simulated play to cover lottery draws, slots, video poker, table games, bingo, and sports betting.
When the measure reached the Senate, the core framework stayed intact. Senators added a lifeline for peer-to-peer skill-based poker, keeping those games outside the ban.
A separate amendment that would regulated and taxed sweepstakes operators instead of prohibiting them was considered but rejected. Public Policy Chairman Sen. Ron Alting noted that resistance was strong in both chambers, especially among leadership, leaving the ban as the chosen path forward.
Source: Gambling Insider
