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Indiana’s push to ban sweepstakes casinos took a major step forward this week as House Bill 1052 cleared the chamber with a notable 87–11 vote. Two members opposed the measure, but the bill now heads to the Senate, where it will be assigned to committee for further debate.
The proposal has shifted since it was first introduced. Lawmakers originally sought to criminalize sweepstakes casino operators, but during hearings before the House Public Policy Committee, the penalties were reduced to civil rather than criminal.
Another amendment expanded the scope of the bill by adding “multi‑currency” to its language, ensuring that games built on either dual‑currency or multi‑currency systems fall under the ban.
With those changes, HB1052 has become the most advanced sweepstakes ban bill of 2026, moving further along the legislative process than similar measures in Maine, Mississippi, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida.
What does HB 1052 say?
Hb 1052 sets out clear penalties for sweepstakes casino operators. Any company that runs these games in Indiana, or allows Indiana players to take part, would face a civil fine of $100,000. Lawmakers framed the measure to make sure operators cannot escape liability by claiming their platforms are based elsewhere.
The bill also outlines exactly what kind of games fall under the ban. A sweepstakes game is defined as any contest or promotion offered online and accessible through devices like mobile phones or computers.
What makes these games different is their use of dual-currency or multi-currency systems, where players can exchange money for either direct cash prizes or for chances to win cash equivalents.
Beyond the payment system, HB1052 targets the way these games mimic traditional gambling. The definition includes simulations of lottery draws and casino‑style play, from slot machines and video poker to table games, bingo, and even sports wagering.
Talks of regulating sweepstakes casinos were held
Debate over HB1052 was not without pushback inside the House Public Policy Committee. Out of the 13 members, five raised concerns about banning sweepstakes casinos outright. Some argued that regulation should be considered before lawmakers moved to eliminate the industry.
Rep. Steve Bartels went as far as proposing an amendment that would regulate the platforms instead of shutting them down. During a January 6 hearing, he questioned the rush to ban them:
“We keep saying there’s no violation of our current law and it’s odd that we have an agency wishing to pass iLotto owned by a private company outside the state of Indiana that now most of these sweepstakes are outside Indiana, but we’re going to ban them without trying to regulate them first? I think we’re doing a knee-jerk reaction based on potential competition with our own state agencies and I think we need to seriously step back and say, ‘Wait a minute. Is this what we’re going to do? This is the first time hearing about this and we’re going to ban this?’”
He added, “They’re not violating any laws. But maybe we need to regulate them.”
Rep. Jim Lucas also spoke strongly against the ban, pointing to the long history of sweepstakes casinos in the state. “(Sweeps casinos have) been doing business for well over a decade,” he said.
“They provide a service that hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers are enjoying, and they are operating within the law. And it’s incumbent upon us to find a way to make this work because we obviously have other industries that we have molded ourselves around lawfully and I don’t think we should be in the business of picking winners and losers, as we are doing right now with iGaming. So until we can find a way to regulate this industry, I am 100% against just outright banning them.”
Despite these objections, the committee advanced the bill. The only leeway made to the sweepstakes industry was reducing the penalty from criminal to civil, leaving operators facing fines rather than criminal charges if the measure becomes law.
