Louisiana’s governor vetoed a bill that would’ve made sweepstakes gaming illegal in the Pelican State.
Key Takeaways
- Gov. Jeff Landry deems anti-sweepstakes gaming bill “not necessary.”
- SB 181 wanted to punish violators with up to a $100,000 fine and five years in prison.
- Sweepstakes gaming association applauds Landry’s decision.
Gov. Jeff Landry sent a letter to the Louisiana Senate on Thursday saying his decision was based on a law that he deems “not necessary.”
“This bill attempts to criminalize certain secondary gambling activities on the internet that are already prohibited in Louisiana,” Landry wrote. “Our current Louisiana Gaming Control Board has the regulatory authority, control, and jurisdiction over all aspects of gaming activities and operations pursuant to the Louisiana Gaming Control Law.”
Landry said Senate Bill 181 is too broad and could “harm or impede” current enforcement. The Pelican State governor added that gaming regulators are actively solving the illegal gaming issue, pointing to regulators sending offshore online sportsbook and casino operator Bovada a cease-and-desist letter.
“The Board's firm stance against such operations is aimed at protecting Louisiana residents from unregulated gambling activities that violate state laws,” Landry wrote. “The Board, the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, and the LSP Gaming Division are all monitoring this type of activity and will continue to issue additional cease-and-desist letters to similar illegal offshore wagering and illegal online sweepstakes companies that intentionally design their business models to circumvent Louisiana gaming laws and regulations.”
Attacking sweepstakes
Louisiana allows for legal sports betting, but the Pelican State does not have regulated online casinos.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Adam Bass in April, was designed to ban sweepstakes sites that mimic illegal online casinos and operate under the guise of promotional contests. It called for penalties of up to $100,000 and five years imprisonment for violators. Lawmakers defined sweepstakes as online games and contests that use dual currency, like virtual currency that can be exchanged for real cash and prizes.
The legislative branch passed SB 181 on April 29 by a vote of 39-0. The legislation was adopted in the House by a 38-0 vote on June 3 before being sent to Landry’s desk on June 8.
Other action
Louisiana joined Florida, Mississippi, and Maryland in ending legislative efforts to ban controversial sweepstakes gaming.
“Governor Landry’s veto is a powerful affirmation that not all online games are gambling and that innovation should not be met with prohibition,” the Social and Promotional Games Association said in a statement. “This legislation blurred critical legal distinctions and risked punishing legitimate businesses that comply with well-established sweepstakes laws and offer free-to-play experiences.”
SPGA APPLAUDS GOVERNOR LANDRY’S VETO OF SWEEPSTAKES BAN, CITES VICTORY FOR LEGAL DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT pic.twitter.com/s107HOaSk1
— theSPGA (@theSPGA) June 13, 2025
However, Montana became the first U.S. State last month to ban social casinos and sportsbooks. Connecticut’s governor signed a bill into law on Wednesday that prohibits online sweepstakes gaming. The New York Senate passed an anti-sweepstakes bill on Wednesday that is headed to the Assembly for further action.
