On Thursday this week, both houses of the Indiana legislature passed the conference committee report for HB 1052, officially sending the ban to Governor Mike Braun for signature. If signed into law, Indiana will become the first state in the entire US by 2026, and the seventh overall, to ban lottery casinos, with the ban set to take effect on July 1. In plain terms, it means one more place in the US where lottery casinos cannot operate. The bill also grants the Indiana Gaming Commission greater authority to combat unlicensed operators. Want to know how various states in the US are tackling grey market gambling platforms? Follow ongoing legislative and enforcement updates on the PASA official website.
1. Indiana: Fast-track approval by both houses, effective July 1
The legislative process for HB 1052 was exceptionally swift:
Early February: The House passed the original version 86-12
Later: The Senate passed it 37-8, but with amendments related to tobacco and e-cigarette wholesalers
This week: After minor adjustments by the conference committee, both houses finally approved the compromise version
Next step: To be signed by Governor Braun, with an expected effective date of July 1
2. 2026, multiple states to follow: Tennessee, Iowa, Maine, and others moving forward together
Indiana is not alone; several states are simultaneously advancing bans on lottery casinos this year:
Mississippi: The Senate passed the SB 2104 ban for the second consecutive year. Last year, it was aborted due to the House adding online sports betting provisions.
Maine: LD 2007 passed the Veterans Committee and was transferred to the Senate. The governor had already signed a bill legalizing online casinos in January.
Tennessee: SB 2136 passed the Senate Commerce Committee 8-0, defining illegal gambling as a violation of the Consumer Protection Act, authorizing the Sports Betting Commission and the Attorney General to investigate.
Iowa: SF 2289 passed the Senate 44-0, expanding the authority of the Racing and Gaming Commission to act against unlicensed operators, including offshore and lottery platforms.
Maryland: Four ban bills are proceeding in parallel, with a Senate hearing on March 11.
Additionally, in February, the Illinois Gaming Board and the Attorney General's office issued cease and desist letters to over 60 unlicensed online casino and lottery casino operators.
3. 2025 Review: Six states have banned, Louisiana rejected
Last year, the first wave of lottery casino bans swept across the US:
Six states with enacted bans: California, Connecticut, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York
Louisiana: The legislature passed the ban, but Governor Landry vetoed it, citing existing enforcement powers of the state gaming regulatory body. Subsequently, the state gaming control board issued cease and desist letters to 40 illegal operators, including lottery casinos.
Last year, more than 100 cease and desist letters were issued to lottery operators across the US, including states like Mississippi and Maryland where legislation was initially advanced but ultimately stalled.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel: https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
