Louisiana Senate Sends Sweeps Ban to Gov. Landry Casino By lines May 16, 2026 Louisiana sweepstakes casino ban legislation cleared a major hurdle this week. The Louisiana Senate passed House Bill 883 by a 35-0 vote on May 12, 2026. House Bill 883 reclassifies dual-currency gaming as illegal “gambling by computer” under Louisiana state law. Gov. Jeff Landry now holds two sweepstakes ban bills on his desk. What House Bill 883 Changes in Louisiana Statute House Bill 883 adds new statutory language to Louisiana gambling law. The Louisiana statute now treats dual-currency online games as “gambling by computer.” House Bill 883 states: “Any game, contest, or promotion that is available on the internet or accessible on a mobile phone, computer terminal, or similar access device that utilizes a dual-currency system of payment allowing the player to exchange the currency for any prize or award, cash, or cash equivalents, or any chance to win any prize or award, cash, or cash equivalents, and simulates any form of gambling constitutes gambling by computer.” House Bill 883 raises the maximum operator fine from $20,000 to $100,000. The maximum prison sentence stays at five years per Louisiana offense. (Source: Sweepsy.) House Bill 53 already sits on Gov. Landry’s desk since May 5, 2026. House Bill 53 expands Louisiana’s racketeering laws to cover gambling-by-computer offenses. Louisiana racketeering convictions carry up to 50 years in prison and $1 million in fines. Louisiana prosecutors may also pursue forfeiture of up to three times the alleged profits. Together, House Bill 883 and House Bill 53 link sweepstakes platforms to Louisiana racketeering exposure. The Louisiana vote follows a sharp regional shift on sweepstakes regulation in May 2026. Oklahoma overrode Gov. Kevin Stitt’s veto on May 14, 2026 to ban sweepstakes casinos statewide. Tennessee Senate Bill 2136 awaits Gov. Bill Lee’s signature in Nashville. Minnesota Senate File 4474 still needs a House vote before the May 18, 2026 session adjournment. Louisiana’s 2026 legislative session runs through June 1, 2026. Gov. Landry vetoed Senate Bill 181, a similar Louisiana sweepstakes ban, in 2025. Gov. Landry rejected Senate Bill 181 as “a solution in search of a problem.” Louisiana’s governor has 10 days to act on House Bill 883 while the legislature stays in session. If Gov. Landry takes no action on House Bill 883, Louisiana law adopts the ban automatically. Related Casino Reviews Oklahoma Bans Sweeps Casinos After Veto Override Louisiana Sweepstakes Racketeering Bill Tests Landry Minnesota Sweeps Ban Needs House Vote by Monday Sources: Sweepsy reported House Bill 883’s 35-0 Senate passage on May 12, 2026. Covers reported House Bill 53’s racketeering provisions and its delivery to Gov. Landry. Covers also reported the Oklahoma veto override vote on May 14, 2026.
