The Connecticut General Law Committee filed a 30-page raised bill (No. 1235) on Tuesday, Feb. 4 that would ban sweepstakes featuring "real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering." The proposal also makes it a Class D felony to engage in that activity as renowned sports betting and gaming lawyer Daniel Wallach first reported on X:
NEW: The Connecticut General Law Committee has filed a bill that would ban sweepstakes featuring "real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering," and make it a Class D felony to engage in that activity. https://t.co/CkqfutIDkF pic.twitter.com/plB889jyX1
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) February 5, 2025
Class D felonies in the Constitution State are punishable by up to five (5) years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Some examples of Class D felonies include criminal mischief, paying or accepting a kickback, perjury, cyberstalking, violating a protection order, and bail jumping. On Wednesday, the proposal was referred to the state's Joint Committee on General Law.
The bill's summary officially states:
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION'S
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LOTTERY AND GAMING REGULATION.To (1) prohibit lottery ticket resales and ticket courier services, (2) modify the Commissioner of Consumer Protection's disciplinary authority concerning certain gaming licensees, (3) require vendor and affiliate licensees to provide books and records, (4) define and redefine certain terms concerning gaming, (5) modify provisions concerning wagers on sporting events involving Connecticut intercollegiate teams, (6) restrict who may review certain criminal history records checks, (7) prohibit certain advertising, (8) authorize certain bets and wagers on boxing and mixed martial arts, (9) provide that certain persons conducting sweepstakes or promotional drawings shall not allow or facilitate participation in certain real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering, (10) provide that any person who engages in professional gambling shall be guilty of a class D felony, and (11) repeal a provision authorizing the commissioner to appoint a director to perform delegated functions.
FanDuel and DraftKings both operate iGaming and sports betting sites legally in Connecticut.
Back in October, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection ordered Australian-based Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) Holdings to stop offering its services within the state. VGW is currently the largest sweepstakes-based casino active in the U.S.
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in 47 states and let you play online casino games for free. The "no purchase necessary policy" is what separates them from real money online casinos.
Same day, different state
Also on Tuesday, supporters filed SB860 in the Maryland state legislature to prohibit online sweepstakes casinos. The bill proposes license denial and/or revocation of any person or entity that supports or promotes the operation of online sweepstakes games.
Stay tuned!
