A new bill entitled “Prohibition of online sweepstakes games and revenue from illegal markets” was filed this week in the Maryland State Senate by Sen. Paul Corderman. Senate Bill 860 would explicitly prohibit the operation or promotion of online sweepstakes games.
It would also require the Maryland gaming regulator (the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency) to deny and/or revoke licenses “under certain circumstances,” presumably circumstances pertaining to running or promoting online sweeps gaming sites.
The bill was referred to the Budget and Taxation Committee and has a potential effective date of July 1, 2025. One day later, a companion bill was filed in the House by Del. Eric Ebersole, Daniel Wallach reported via LinkedIn on Wednesday. HB1140 was referred to House Ways and Means Committee.
Maryland’s established anti-sweepstakes position
Maryland is one of a number of states so far in 2025 to take a hard stance against sweeps. The state gaming regulator announced in January it had sent cease-and-desist letters to 11 unauthorized gaming operators, including six sweepstakes sites.
With a fresh iGaming bill on the table, the Maryland Senate recently held an online casino bill hearing. A number of the bill’s proponents explained to the committee that internet casino gambling was already available in the state, but on sites that are untaxed and unregulated.
During the hearing, Shawn Fluharty, West Virginia Minority Whip and Head of Governmental Affairs at Play’n GO, demonstrated he was able to access and play sweepstakes casino games right from the Senate Office Building.
Many who spoke up during the hearing seemed to agree that the ongoing operation of a number of sites offering casino games in Maryland was problematic. These new bills look to address that aspect of concern, but takes things a step further.
Maryland SB860 would not only outlaw sweepstakes sites themselves, but also payment processors, gaming manufacturers, and even media affiliates (anyone holding a gaming license) from supporting or promoting such operations. The bill would also make violators guilty of a misdemeanor with potential penalties to include revoking of gaming licenses, up to three years imprisonment, and a fine up to $100,000.
A variety of answers to the sweeps question
Most recently, New York, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arizona are all taking hard-nosed stances against sweeps gaming sites, or at least some legislators and attorneys general are.
New York Sen. Joseph Addabbo is one of the first to write in a clause in a proposed iGaming bill to exclude any operator (AKA sweepstakes casinos) that had offered internet casino gaming to New Yorkers in the three years leading up to a bill passing.
Maryland is clearly aligning with the anti-sweeps side of the issue, which could prove beneficial in getting regulated iGaming passed in the next few years.
