For the Second Year in a Row, Mississippi’s Attempt to Ban Sweepstakes Fails

Sweepstakes casino operators and players can breathe a sigh of relief, for now, after the Mississippi House failed to advance a bill that would have banned sweepstakes casino games. SB2104, which aims to ban online sweepstakes games and assign felony penalties, initially passed the Mississippi Senate with a unanimous 52-0 vote. It also entered the House with bipartisan support, as filed by Senator Joey Fillingane (R-District 41) and Senator David Blount (D-District 29).

However, SB2104 had a different fate in the House: no specific committee vote happened, officially stalling it here after legislators struggled to link this to sports betting expansion.

A Temporary, Yet Well-Deserved Relief for Sweepstakes Operators and Players

The first two months of 2026 have been particularly challenging for sweepstakes casino operators and the broader industry.

Indiana, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Iowa are just a few of the US states that have escalated their campaigns against the sweepstakes casino industry. Mississippi’s SB2104, introduced in January 2024, was arguably among the harshest sweepstakes casino ban bills, as it proposed felony charges and up to 10 years' imprisonment for violators.

The bill’s language is bold, direct, and clear: sweepstakes casinos are illegal, and operating these games or sites is a felony offense. SB2104 clarifies sweepstakes casinos as “illegal gambling activities under state law”. It added that individuals or companies guilty of offering these games may face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $100,000. 

However, it is the asset‑forfeiture provision that truly alarms the industry. In short, the state is warning operators that it will exhaust all legal remedies to collect the money earned from players’ bets.

Mississippi’s SB2104 is First to Fail in 2026

After a series of bad news, sweepstakes casino operators and players can now enjoy a refreshing break. SB2104 is down and stalled in the House for now, and only Indiana, as of this writing, has passed a ban with its HB1052. Indiana’s bill is now in the hands of Governor Mike Braun for signature.

Last year, Mississippi’s Senate also approved a sweepstakes casino bill, SB2150. After earning the nod of the senators, the bill moved to the House, but failed to advance due to disagreements over amendments.

REFERENCES

• SB2104