California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 831 on 11 October, banning sweepstakes gambling in the state. The law also provides for penalties against suppliers, affiliates and other partners that support the platforms. SGLA executive director Jeff Duncan said the group had urged Newsom to veto the bill.
The law exposes sweepstakes operators and their commercial partners to penalties for supporting the platforms in California.
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Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 1235 into law last Wednesday, banning specified sweepstakes and promotional activities that use simulated gambling or facilitate online casino gaming and sports wagering without state licences. The law takes effect on 1 October 2025 and exempts qualifying grocery-store sweepstakes offering store discounts; the Social and Promotional Games Association criticised the measure.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry vetoed Senate Bill 181 on 12 June, saying existing state authorities already have power to address illegal online gambling. The bill would have classified platforms using dual-currency payment systems as illegal and provided for fines of $10,000 to $100,000 and prison terms of up to five years. The legislature may override the veto, while the bill’s prospects for an override were described as slim.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a law banning prediction markets in the state, with the measure due to take effect on 1 August 2026. The law allows weather-related markets; the CFTC has filed a lawsuit seeking to block it, arguing that it challenges federal oversight of its regulated markets.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation on 5 December banning sweepstakes casinos that use dual-currency systems, the report said. The law applies to operators and supporting companies, with civil penalties of $10,000 to $100,000 and powers to revoke existing gaming licences or deny future applications. Novig confirmed it had left the state as the ban took effect.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law banning sweepstakes casinos, while lawmakers in Florida, Indiana and Maine introduced related bills, according to the report. The New York measure formalises action taken this summer, when sites left after receiving cease-and-desist letters from Attorney General Letitia James. The proposed bills would establish further restrictions or penalties in the other states.