Louisiana Governor Vetoes Bill To Ban Sweepstakes Casinos, But C&Ds Sent
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in Louisiana following a veto, though that does not mean they are free to operate in the state.
Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill seeking to prohibit sweepstakes casinos from operating in Louisiana last Friday. Landry said the bill was unnecessary and that the state already had a system to combat illegal gambling operators, including sweepstakes companies.
The bill, SB 181, received unanimous support in both legislative chambers before reaching Landry’s desk.
Louisiana targets sweepstakes operators without prohibition
Landry’s message to the legislature included multiple reasons for vetoing SB 181. He said, “This bill is a solution in search of a problem that is already being solved by our current system and some of the language in this bill is overly broad and could be interpreted in an adverse manner, which may harm or impede our current enforcement actions taken against these bad actors.”
Landry cited the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the Attorney General’s Office and the Louisiana State Police Gaming Division as active participants in pursuing illegal gambling activities, and said they will continue to serve cease-and-desist orders to those intentionally trying to circumvent state gambling laws.
Those words proved true Tuesday, too, when the Board announced it sent more than 40 cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes operators.
“These actions send a clear message,” LGCB Chair Christopher Hebert said in a release. “Louisiana will not tolerate illegal operators who put our citizens at risk and undermine the fairness and integrity of our gaming industry. We will continue to use every enforcement tool available to protect the public and uphold the law.”
Other states take various actions
The 2025 legislative session proved busy for lawmakers across multiple states discussing sweepstakes casinos.
Arkansas, Florida, Maryland and Mississippi all had anti-sweepstakes bills die early in this year’s session. Mississippi served 10 C&D letters of its own on Tuesday and cautioned users that no legal exceptions existed for “so-called ‘sweepstakes’ casinos” in a press release.
Four more states successfully ousted sweepstakes casinos this year. New York lawmakers approved a bill on Tuesday evening that awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature, and VGW, the parent company of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker, announced its departure in May, in anticipation of the bill’s passage.
Connecticut, Montana and Nevada also passed bills to prohibit sweepstakes casinos.
Louisiana sports betting tax hike is a go
Despite vetoing an online sweepstakes casino ban, Landry supported another online gambling-related bill that reached his desk.
The Louisiana State Legislature’s website confirmed on Tuesday that Landry signed HB 639 into law. The bill increases Louisiana sports betting taxes to 21.5% from 15%.
Under the new law, the state’s 11 public Division I universities will receive 25% of all sports betting taxes. The remainder will continue to support early childhood education, local governments and gambling addiction programs.
