Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has rejected a legislative attempt to outlaw sweepstakes casinos. He considers the bill unnecessary.
The state House passed Senate Bill 181 on June 2 with a unanimous 99-0 vote. The Senate had already approved the bill earlier.
The bill aimed to outlaw sweepstakes-based online casinos in Louisiana. Violators would have faced penalties of up to $100,000 and up to five years in prison. It specifically targeted online games and contests that use a dual-currency system.
However, Governor Landry clarified that he vetoed Senate Bill 181 from the 2025 Regular Legislative Session. He announced the decision in a veto message. He sent it to the president and secretary of the Louisiana Senate on June 12.
The letter states that the bill tries to criminalize certain secondary internet gambling activities that the state law already prohibits.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board currently holds regulatory authority, control, and jurisdiction over all aspects of gaming activities and operations. The Louisiana Gaming Control Law grants this authority.
The Board is already taking active steps to combat illegal gambling in Louisiana. It is focusing especially on illegal offshore wagering and online sweepstakes companies operating in the state.
The Board remains dedicated to promoting a secure and regulated gaming environment in Louisiana. As such, the bill attempts to address a problem already managed by the existing system. Some parts of the bill use overly broad language. This could lead to misinterpretation and potentially harm or hinder ongoing enforcement efforts against bad actors.
For these reasons, Senate Bill 181 is not necessary.
The Sweepstakes trade group, the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), praised Governor Landry for rejecting SB181. In response to the veto, the SPGA said the bill would have severely limited lawful digital entertainment platforms. Hundreds of thousands of Louisiana residents use these platforms.
