Mississippi and Maryland Move Forward With Sweepstakes Gaming Ban
Efforts to prohibit sweepstakes gaming are gaining momentum in both Maryland and Mississippi, with significant legislative developments in both states.
Two NBA players battle for ball
Maryland's Senate unanimously passed SB 860 with a 47-0 vote, which aims to ban online sweepstakes gaming and casinos. The bill now moves to the House Ways and Means Committee for a March 20 hearing.
Key points of Maryland's legislation:
- Empowers the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to deny licenses to operators involved in sweepstakes gaming
- Imposes fines between $10,000 and $100,000 plus potential three-year imprisonment for violations
- Prohibits games simulating casino activities, lottery games, and sports betting
- Targets dual-currency systems used in sweepstakes gaming
Mississippi's situation is more complex. While the House approved Senate bill SB 2510 to ban sweepstakes gaming, they added language to legalize online sports betting, potentially complicating its passage. The bill passed the Senate initially with a 44-1 vote but faces uncertainty due to the added sports betting provisions.
The Mississippi legislation:
- Originally focused on prohibiting online sweepstakes games and casinos
- Now includes language from HB 1302 regarding sports betting legalization
- Passed the House with votes of 107-3 (SB 2381) and 83-19 (SB 2510)
- Faces challenges in the Senate due to concerns about online betting's impact on physical casinos
While Maryland's straightforward approach appears more likely to succeed, Mississippi's combined legislation faces significant hurdles due to the Senate's resistance to online sports betting expansion.