Mississippi legislators are intensifying their attempts to address unauthorized gambling, particularly focusing on online sweepstake casino-style games.
Senators Joey Fillingane and David Blount have put forth SB 2104, aiming to amend the state’s definition of illegal gaming machines to encompass online sweepstakes platforms.
This proposed law would prohibit such sites and escalate penalties for those who offer or endorse them. Should it be signed into law, the legislation will become effective on July 1, 2026, positioning Mississippi as the latest state to ban online sweepstake gaming.
This marks yet another attempt by Mississippi lawmakers to outlaw online sweepstake gambling. In February 2025, the state Senate passed a comparable bill sponsored by Fillingane and Blount, with the support of the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) and licensed land-based casinos.
However, this initiative became stalled after the House tacked on a provision that legalized online sports betting, ultimately derailing the bill during the conference stage.
Similar to its 2025 predecessor, SB 2104 targets online sweepstake casinos but does not distinctly define these platforms. Other state regulations have previously described specific dual-currency models which permit players to win cash or other rewards, but Mississippi’s proposal lacks these specifications.
In earlier Senate sessions, Fillingane categorized online sweepstakes platforms alongside unlicensed offshore casinos, citing examples like VGW’s Chumba Casino, Bovada, and BetUS. This categorization attracted backlash from sweepstake operators, who contended it was misleading.
After the 2025 bill’s failure, the MGC issued cease-and-desist orders to several operators, including those previously mentioned—VGW later suspended Sweeps Coin play in Mississippi during the summer of 2025.
In 2026, legislators in Indiana, Maine, Florida, and Virginia have introduced bills addressing online sweepstakes, ranging from outright bans to regulatory measures.
Indiana legislators discussed a ban on sweepstakes during last week’s committee hearing, while Maine is set to hold an initial committee meeting on January 14. Florida’s proposed legislation criminalizes various forms of unregulated online gaming, whereas Virginia’s bill would make sweepstakes illegal without a license if online casinos gain authorization.
SB 2104 has been sent to the Senate Judiciary Division B Committee, which is under the chairmanship of Fillingane.