Connecticut and Montana Anti-Sweepstakes Law In Effect Now

As of the start of this month, sweepstakes casinos are officially banned from operating in Montana and Connecticut. 

Both laws stipulated that they’d go into effect on Oct. 1. This includes Montana’s SB 555 and Connecticut’s Senate Bill 1235.

In addition to Montana and Connecticut, laws against sweepstakes casinos have been passed in New Jersey, New York, and California. However, these are the first two to go into effect.

The Language of the Bills

While sweepstakes casinos are banned in Montana, it’s worth noting that the word “sweepstakes” doesn’t appear in Montana’s bill even once. 

Here’s how it reads: 

“The term [internet gambling] includes online casinos, by whatever name known, which constitute internet gambling and therefore are prohibited. This includes but is not limited to any platform, website, or application that knowingly transmits or receives gambling information, allows consumers to place a bet or wager using any form of currency, and makes payouts of any form of currency.”

It’s the “any form of currency” line that put sweepstakes casinos in the crosshairs. However, as for Gold Coins, it seems like those are safe in Montana. 

As for Connecticut, it was certainly more direct. It stated that it’s a violation of the law to “conduct or promote a sweepstakes or a promotional drawing” that “allows or facilitates participation in any real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering.”

Other Anti-Sweepstakes States 

As mentioned, the other states that passed laws were New Jersey, New York, and California. 

New Jersey’s law went into effect the day Governor Phil Murphy signed it, which was Aug. 15. 

As for New York and California, those bills are sitting on the desks of their respective Governors, Kathy Hochul and Gavin Newsom. 

Newsom has until tomorrow, Oct. 12, to make a decision. If he doesn’t make a decision, the process will proceed as if it were signed into law. 

Right now, the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance is lobbying both states to veto the bills. They’ve hosted campaigns in which Newsom’s office was contacted over 10,000 times, and Hochul’s has been over 2,000 times. 

We’ll see what comes of them, especially California, with less than 24 hours until a decision is made (or not).