Maryland Sweepstakes Casinos Remain Accessible as Regulatory Dispute Continues

Angelica Praxides | September 16, 2026

Key Takeaways

• A September 13 market review found that numerous sweepstakes casino brands continue to accept Maryland players, although some offer only free-play access.

• Maryland does not license real-money online casinos, and its gaming regulator maintains that unauthorized online casino-style gambling is prohibited under existing law.

• The regulator reported issuing 75 cease-and-desist letters since May 2024 in a January 2026 legislative briefing.

• House Bill 295 passed the House in March 2026 but did not complete the legislative process. Its companion, Senate Bill 112, also was not enacted.

• The absence of a newly enacted sweepstakes-specific ban does not establish that every platform currently accepting Maryland players operates lawfully.

Maryland Enforcement at a Glance

The January response figures describe the earlier group of 75 operators and should not be presented as the response breakdown for all 89 letters. The regulator’s figures cover unauthorized online gaming more broadly.

What Happened?

Maryland's sweepstakes casino market remains active despite an enforcement campaign that began more than two years ago.

A September 13 review of operator availability identified numerous platforms still accepting Maryland customers, including Crown Coins, Wow Vegas, Zula, Spinsly and Amazon Jackpots. The review also noted that some operators restrict Maryland users to free-play products.

The finding comes five months after Maryland lawmakers ended their 2026 session without enacting legislation intended to strengthen restrictions on unauthorized online gaming.

The proposed legislation did not become law, but the state's gaming regulator has continued to maintain that online casino-style gambling is unauthorized unless expressly permitted under Maryland law.

That leaves operators and players facing two different questions: whether a platform remains accessible in Maryland and whether its particular gaming model complies with existing state law.

Why Sweepstakes Casinos Are Still Accessible

Maryland’s enforcement campaign has prompted some operators to withdraw or change their games, but it has not resulted in a complete market exit.

In its January 2026 legislative briefing, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency reported issuing 75 cease-and-desist letters since May 2024. Of those recipients, 23 had agreed to leave Maryland or modify their games, 17 had responded without agreeing to comply, and 35 had not responded.

The enforcement total subsequently increased. In April testimony, the regulator said it had issued 89 letters since 2024 and that approximately 25% of the operators contacted had withdrawn. It also said its authority to compel operators to stop was limited, helping explain why some platforms remained accessible after receiving notices.

The September market review found that several sweepstakes brands still accepted Maryland players, though availability and access to redeemable gameplay varied by operator. Continued access should therefore not be treated as confirmation that a platform’s full offering is authorized.

What Happened to Maryland's 2026 Ban Bills?

Maryland lawmakers considered two companion bills, HB 295 and SB 112, that sought to prohibit specified interactive games and impose additional requirements on gaming businesses with ties to unauthorized markets.

HB 295 passed the House 105–24 on March 20, but did not advance to enactment in the Senate. SB 112 also failed to become law. As a result, Maryland did not enact the proposed interactive-games prohibition in 2026.

The outcome leaves the existing legal dispute unresolved: the regulator maintains that unauthorized online casino-style gaming is prohibited under current law, while the failed bills would have added more explicit restrictions and enforcement provisions.

The Regulator's Position Remains Unchanged

In a November 18, 2025, cease-and-desist notice to Chumba Casino, the Commission said it had reviewed the platform's casino games, poker and sweepstakes offerings and determined that they involved consideration, chance and prizes.

The regulator argued that those elements constituted gambling and that the activity was not authorized under Maryland law.

This is the state's enforcement position, rather than a court ruling establishing that every sweepstakes casino model is unlawful.

The ongoing disagreement is therefore not simply about whether Maryland has passed a law explicitly naming dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. It also concerns how existing gambling restrictions apply to individual products.

Why This Matters

Maryland presents a different regulatory situation from states that have enacted explicit prohibitions on particular sweepstakes casino models.

Its proposed 2026 legislation failed, but its regulator has continued taking action under existing law.

For players, that creates uncertainty around account access, available currency types, and redemption options. A platform accepting Maryland registrations today could later restrict its offerings or withdraw following further enforcement.

For operators, the failure of HB 295 and SB 112 does not provide a guarantee of continued access. The regulator's existing position remains relevant regardless of whether lawmakers introduce another bill.

Industry Impact

Maryland illustrates how sweepstakes casino markets can remain active even when regulators dispute the legality of the underlying products.

The state's enforcement record includes operators that have withdrawn or modified their games, alongside others that have not agreed to comply with cease-and-desist notices.

This creates a fragmented market in which different brands may respond to the same regulatory environment in different ways.

The September review provides evidence of continued operator availability, but it does not resolve the legal questions surrounding redeemable sweepstakes gameplay.

Stakester Analysis

Reference

• Maryland Lottery and Gaming: Legal vs. Illegal Online Gaming