This Week in Sweepstakes Casinos — February 10-16, 2026
Weekly roundup: Indiana ban bill advances, California regulation proposal gains support, two casinos expand to new states, and a major provider announcement.
This Week in Sweepstakes Casinos
Here is what happened in the sweepstakes casino industry this week, broken down by The Low Lay’s editorial team.
Legislative Updates
Indiana HB 1052 Passes House (87-11). Indiana’s sweepstakes casino ban bill cleared the House with an overwhelming bipartisan majority on January 28. The bill now sits with the Senate Judiciary Committee. If signed into law, sweepstakes casinos would be classified as illegal gambling under Indiana law. Several operators, including Pulsz, have already begun voluntarily withdrawing from the state. Players in Indiana should consider redeeming any outstanding Sweeps Coins promptly.
California AB 1127 Gains Committee Support. A comprehensive regulation bill for sweepstakes gaming in California was referred to the Governmental Organization Committee. Unlike ban bills in other states, AB 1127 proposes a licensing framework with consumer protections — potentially creating the largest regulated sweepstakes market in the country. The bill would require operators to register with the state, implement responsible gaming features, and disclose RTP information.
Hawaii SB 3281 Moves to Committee. Hawaii’s consumer protection bill for social casinos was assigned to the Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee. The bill would require registration and responsible gaming features rather than an outright ban.
For full bill tracking across all 50 states, see our Bill Tracker.
Casino Changes
McLuck Expands to Vermont. McLuck became available to Vermont players on January 15, expanding its footprint to 47 states. The expansion follows McLuck’s pattern of aggressive market growth throughout late 2025.
WOW Vegas Enters Maine. WOW Vegas launched in Maine on January 10, adding another New England state to its availability map. Maine players can now access WOW Vegas’s full game library including their recent Pragmatic Play additions.
Fortune Coins Exits Tennessee. Fortune Coins withdrew from Tennessee on November 20, citing concerns about pending legislation (SB 892). This follows a broader pattern of operators preemptively leaving states with active ban bills.
Industry Analysis
What The Low Lay Is Watching This Week
The split between states pursuing bans versus regulation is becoming clearer. Indiana and Tennessee represent the ban approach — classify sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling and shut them down. California and Hawaii represent the regulation approach — create frameworks that protect consumers while allowing the industry to operate.
For players, the regulation approach is generally better. Regulated markets mean licensed operators, mandatory responsible gaming features, and government oversight. Ban states push players toward unregulated alternatives, which carry higher risks.
The next 90 days are critical. Indiana’s Senate vote on HB 1052 will set a precedent. If it passes, other states with pending ban bills will likely accelerate their timelines. If it stalls, the regulation path becomes more viable.
We cover every development as it happens. Follow our news section and bill tracker for real-time updates.
This Week’s Numbers
| Metric | This Week | Change |
|---|---|---|
| States with active legislation | 7 | +1 (New York disclosure act) |
| Casino state entries | 2 | McLuck (VT), WOW Vegas (ME) |
| Casino state exits | 1 | Fortune Coins (TN) |
| New casinos launched | 0 | — |
This roundup is published weekly by The Low Lay. Data sourced from state legislative databases, operator announcements, and The Low Lay’s own tracking. For methodology details, see our editorial standards.