Mississippi Senator proposes ban on online sweepstakes casinos with new legislation

Mississippi lawmakers are considering a legislative proposal that would impose a statewide ban on online sweepstakes casinos and other digital gambling platforms. Senate Bill 2510 (SB 2510), introduced by Sen. Joey Fillingane, seeks to amend the Mississippi Code of 1972 to classify online gambling, including sweepstakes casinos, as illegal and subject to strict criminal penalties.  

The bill aims to broaden Mississippi’s existing gambling laws by defining online, interactive, or computerized gaming as unlawful. It explicitly targets online sweepstakes casinos, online sports pools, and online racebooks. 

According to the bill’s language, any online platform that offers games of chance or simulates gambling through digital means would be classified as a gambling device and prohibited under Mississippi law.  

A key provision of SB 2510 involves enhanced penalties for violations. If passed, individuals or entities operating such platforms in Mississippi could face felony charges, with potential penalties including fines of up to $100,000 and prison sentences of up to ten years.

The legislation also includes provisions for asset forfeiture, allowing the Mississippi Gaming Commission to seize any property, funds, or rights linked to illegal online gambling operations. The commission would have the authority to manage forfeited assets, potentially through contingency fee agreements.  

The bill stipulates that prosecutions for violations may take place in either the county where the offense occurred or in Hinds County, home to Jackson, the state capital. Hinds County serves as the location for key legal and regulatory institutions, including the Mississippi Supreme Court and the Attorney General’s office, providing a central venue for handling cases related to online gambling violations.  

Additionally, SB 2510 proposes amendments to multiple sections of the Mississippi Code, such as Sections 97-33-1, 97-33-7, and 97-33-8, to strengthen the legal framework against online gambling.

One of the notable changes includes the introduction of the term “simulated gambling program,” which would cover digital platforms that offer predetermined prizes or connect participants to cash-equivalent rewards, even when access to these games is bundled with unrelated purchases.  

The bill also addresses how online sweepstakes platforms often market themselves as promotional contests rather than gambling enterprises. Under the proposed legislation, if such platforms allow users to participate in games of chance where prizes are awarded randomly, they would be considered gambling operations and subject to the same prohibitions as traditional casinos.  

Despite its broad restrictions on online gambling, SB 2510 does not alter Mississippi’s existing legal gambling framework. Casino gaming conducted aboard cruise vessels, licensed gaming establishments, and promotional activities by regulated gaming operators would remain unaffected.

The bill also ensures that legitimate marketing promotions, contests, and sweepstakes designed to attract consumers, provided they comply with state laws, would not be impacted by the new prohibitions. 

SB 2510 is currently under review in the Mississippi Senate’s Judiciary, Division B Committee. If passed, the legislation would take effect on July 1, 2025.  

The proposal in Mississippi comes amid wider discussions on how to regulate online sweepstakes casinos across the United States. While some states, such as New Jersey, have introduced legislation to regulate these platforms, others, including Mississippi, are opting for outright bans.  

In New Jersey, Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese recently introduced Bill A5196, which would require sweepstakes casinos to obtain a casino service industry enterprise license. The bill defines sweepstakes casinos as platforms that do not require an initial monetary investment but allow users to wager promotional gaming credits that can be redeemed for cash or prizes. The New Jersey legislation is currently under consideration in the Assembly’s Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee.