Sweepstakes Casinos have recently come under fire from several state legislations. The most recent of which has been Mississippi, which now aims to ban online sweepstakes casinos. The Bill SB 2510 went through the State senate with little trouble, ending with a 44-1 vote for the ban. Now, it’s on the way to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
If the bill goes into effect, it will increase the penalties for operators who operate within the state and ban all sweepstakes casinos. SB 2510 seeks to close legal loopholes, which have operated in a legal gray area using a “dual currency” model. That allows users to play casino-style games with virtual currency while offering cash prize opportunities. This is a clear shift in Mississippi legislation, aiming at sweepstakes casino operators viewing their operation as a threat to other legal gambling operators. Supporters argue the bill protects consumers and the legal gambling industry from unregulated competitors. Critics say it’s unfair to group sweepstakes gaming with illegal gambling and limits consumer choice.
Either way, you look at it, this bill will make waves throughout the sweepstakes casino industry. With several other states looking at similar bills, the era of sweepstakes casino freedom may be under threat. States such as New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland all have similar proposals creeping through their state legislation.
We’ll have to see if this bill survives the House of Representatives, but as it stands, a ban on sweepstakes casinos in Mississippi appears likely.