Maryland politicians have started another attempt to get rid of online sweepstakes casinos, introducing two matching bills right as the 2026 session began.
Twin Bills Seek Crackdown on Interactive Sweepstakes Casinos in Maryland
The proposals, House Bill 295 and Senate Bill 112, aim to ban interactive gaming platforms that use multi-currency systems where players can turn digital credits into cash or prizes, reported PA Media Group. Both bills showed up on January 14 and went to different committees, showing an early team effort to push the laws through before the session ends in mid-April.
The new push follows earlier efforts that hit a wall in 2025. This year’s paperwork went in at Governor Wes Moore‘s request, after ongoing nudges from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. Officials say many sweepstakes companies kept pushing casino-like games to folks in Maryland even after getting told to stop. They did this by calling them promo sweepstakes or social gaming fun.
The new bills make it a crime to offer or promote an interactive sweepstakes platform in the state. People or companies that break this law could pay fines from $10,000 to $100,000 and spend up to three years in jail. These proposals are tougher than before, with stricter licensing rules: applicants and current license holders must reveal any money, tech, or business ties to companies involved in sweepstakes-like gaming. Regulators can now deny or cancel licenses if an operator or its partners got money from unlicensed interactive gaming or from high-risk areas flagged by federal or international officials.
Growing National Crackdown Fuels Maryland’s Push Against Dual-Currency Gaming
This tougher stance mirrors wider trends across the country. In 2025, states like California and New York decided to outlaw sweepstakes casinos, pushing other states to take a fresh look at their own legal loopholes. Tennessee and Louisiana took action to enforce the law, with their top lawyers releasing official opinions that branded sweepstakes platforms as illegal gambling. Officials in Maryland agree with this view, sticking to their belief that the two-currency system often used by sweepstakes websites fits the legal description of gambling. They argue it has all the key elements: people pay money, luck plays a role, and there is a chance of winning something valuable.
Sweepstakes companies and industry groups will fight back against the new push. At last year’s meetings, people from the industry cautioned lawmakers that broad wording might affect real promotional campaigns run by non-gambling businesses.
Companies also tried to rebrand themselves as “Social Plus,” highlighting how they protect customers and pushing to regulate rather than ban their activities. It is unclear if these arguments will work this time around. With two bills moving forward at the same time and stronger support from state leaders, Maryland seems ready to take a harder stance against the gray-market casino industry that has grown in recent years.