Indiana Sweepstakes Bill Races to Governor's Desk

Indiana’s House Bill 1052, which aims to ban sweepstakes casinos, has passed both chambers and is now awaiting Governor Mike Braun’s approval. A recent joint conference committee reconciled differences, including tweaks to definitions and provisions, making the bill signature-ready.

The joint committee included six members, including Rep. Ethan Manning, HB1052’s sponsor. If signed, the complete ban takes effect July 1st, 2026.

Joint Committee Led by Rep. Ethan Manning Reconciled Both Versions

Indiana is on the verge of officially approving a ban on the popular sweepstakes casino games. The bill passed the Senate (37-8) and the House (87-11), and, with amendments and differences between the two houses, a joint committee was formed for reconciliation.

Rep. Ethan Manning served as the conference chair, joined by Senators Ron Alting and David Niezgodski, together with Representatives Moiller, Bascom, and Johnson. Both the House and Senate voted in favor if the reconciled bill, making it ready for the governor’s signing. 

The joint committee met on February 23rd, and quickly discussed and agreed on the following:

• Sweepstakes casino ban remains, without changes in prohibition language

• Removed unnecessary technical language

• Clarified carve-outs, such as the P2P skills-based poker exception

Joint Conference Chair Rep. Ethan Manning disapproved of some technical edits, but not the ban, suggesting that the panel generally favors the bill.

Regulations vs Ban Debate Continued, But No Changes Noted

Senators Alting and Niezgodski initially called for regulating the sweepstakes casino games industry instead of banning them. However, during the conference meeting, the leadership from both chambers acknowledged that regulating sweepstakes casinos lacked sufficient support, with the ban as the intended path.

The joint committee immediately issued the report with a reconciled bill text, with both chambers approving the new version. Indiana’s legislature then gave its final approval, and it’s now on Governor Braun’s desk.

If signed, HB1052 becomes a law and takes effect July 1st, 2026.

REFERENCES

• HB1052