Louisiana Enacts Sweepstake Casinos Ban, with Penalties Including Criminal Charges and Up to 50 Years

Louisiana has officially banned sweepstakes casinos after Gov. Jeff Landry signed HB 883 and companion bill HB 53 into law. For PSPs and operators, the useful detail is not the politics but the enforcement posture: the state now has a clearer legal basis to go after businesses and individuals involved in sweepstakes gaming.

1. The ban took effect on August 1, 2026, after the legislature passed HB 883 and HB 53 and Gov. Landry gave his approval. Louisiana will no longer allow the operation of sweepstakes casinos in the state.
2. The law targets activities that simulate “any form of gambling” and use dual-currency payment systems that let players exchange those currencies for prizes, awards, cash, or cash equivalents. In other words, the statute is aimed at the standard sweepstakes model, not just one brand or one payment flow.
3. Louisiana had already been moving against the sector before the ban became law. The state sent cease-and-desist letters to Global Poker, LuckyLand, Stake, Chumba, Modo, and others, and some smaller brands kept operating despite those demands.
4. Gov. Landry had previously pushed back on a 2025 proposal, saying the original bill was too broad and could accidentally capture activities beyond sweepstakes casinos. The final version, at least on paper, is narrower and now gives the state more room to enforce.
5. The enforcement angle is the part that matters for risk teams: Louisiana says offenders could face criminal offenses and prison sentences of up to 50 years. That raises the cost of processing, facilitating, or otherwise supporting sweepstakes gambling tied to the state.