SPGA's response to failed attempts to ban sweepstakes in US
The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) has released an official statement celebrating significant legislative victories in Maryland, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The association strongly opposed bills attempting to prohibit social and sweepstakes gaming, which ultimately failed to pass.
A victory for digital entertainment
Arkansas house bill 1861: Arkansas legislators withdrew HB1861 in April 2025. The bill sought to limit online gaming to two currencies and would have given monopoly power over it to licensed casino operators. Legislators did not even bring it to a floor vote.
Maryland SB0860: Maryland’s SB0860 aimed to prohibit sweepstakes gaming outright. However, lawmakers realised that the bill had no supporting data, evidence of consumer harm, or proof that such games affected casino revenues. Consequently, it did not progress.
Mississippi legislation: Attempts to prohibit social gaming in Mississippi met similar opposition. The proposal was turned down by lawmakers due to fears of the unintended effects of prohibiting popular gaming models.
An SPGA spokesperson said, “In Maryland, SB0860 aimed to ban sweepstakes entirely but offered no data, no evidence of consumer harm, and no proof of casino cannibalisation. In Arkansas, HB1861 included provisions that would have restricted dual-currency online gaming and handed exclusive control to licensed casino operators. Both bills died without a floor vote.”
SPGA’s response to misguided legislation
One of the most significant concerns raised was the risk of banning everyday loyalty perks. Airlines, hotels, and coffee shops rely on rewards programmes that these misguided bills could have disrupted.
“These bills shared the same fatal flaw: no facts and no foundation. Legislators are consistently rejecting efforts to criminalise safe, digital entertainment enjoyed by millions of adults across the US. When legislation threatens everyday perks from airlines, hotels, and your local coffee shop, it’s clear the bills aren’t just misguided; they’re dangerously out of touch,” an SPGA spokesperson said.
Social and sweepstakes gaming supports an entire network of businesses, including game developers, payment processors, software vendors, financial institutions, and thousands of jobs at risk.
The SPGA spokesperson further stated, “These bills also sought to dismantle an entire ecosystem of legitimate businesses, including game developers, payment processors, software vendors, banks, and more—threatening thousands of jobs and undermining innovation across the economy.”
Louisiana Senate’s new bill
While the SPGA celebrated victories in three states, the association voiced concerns about a new Louisiana Senate bill passed on 7th April 2025. This legislation criminalises sweepstakes gaming and could significantly impact travel loyalty programmes.
Despite renewed attempts at regulating or prohibiting social gaming, legislators keep pushing back against unsubstantiated assertions. Legislators are not “buying the hype” regarding anti-gaming efforts, SPGA states. As the business continues to evolve, advocacy organisations such as SPGA have a key position to protect digital entertainment and consumer-friendly business models. With increasing legislative scrutiny, the association remains committed to educating lawmakers and protecting online gaming.
