Two more states are pushing sweepstakes casino legislation across the finish line. In Tennessee, SB 2136 cleared a conference committee and both chambers in late April 2026 and now sits on Governor Bill Lee's desk. In Louisiana, HB 53 takes a different approach by adding existing gambling crimes to the state's Racketeering Act, and now awaits Governor Jeff Landry's signature. Together, the two measures show how far state lawmakers are willing to go to shut down sweepstakes casino operators.
Tennessee SB 2136 Awaits Governor Lee's Signature
Tennessee Senate Bill 2136 cleared the conference committee in late April 2026 and was approved by both chambers shortly after, with the Senate adopting the conference report 25-5 and the House passing it 69-17. The Senate had already passed the original measure 32-0 in March, signaling broad bipartisan support for tougher enforcement against unregulated sweepstakes platforms. The bill is sponsored by Senate Pro Tempore Ferrell Haile and represents one of the most detailed statutory definitions of sweepstakes activity in any state to date.
SB 2136 defines an "online sweepstakes game" as a contest available online that simulates casino gaming and uses a digital currency that can be redeemed for prizes. Under that definition, the operation, promotion, or facilitation of such games would be classified as illegal gambling under Tennessee law. Violations would also be treated as offenses under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, opening the door to civil penalties on top of any criminal exposure.
The bill grants Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti new investigative and enforcement powers tailored to digital sweepstakes operators. Skrmetti previously sent roughly 40 cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes platforms in December 2025, and SB 2136 would give his office a more durable statutory framework for follow-on action. Carve-outs are preserved for state-licensed nonprofits, the Tennessee state lottery, online sports wagering, and licensed daily fantasy sports operators, narrowing the new restrictions to dual-currency casino-style platforms.
Governor Lee has 10 days from receipt to sign or veto the bill. If he takes no action within that window, SB 2136 becomes law without his signature, with the effective date tied to the timing of enactment. Tennessee would then join the growing list of states that have moved beyond cease-and-desist enforcement to a full statutory ban on sweepstakes casino operations.
Louisiana HB 53 Awaits Governor Landry's Signature
Louisiana House Bill 53 takes a different route. Rather than creating a new ban, the measure adds existing gambling crimes, including gambling by computer and the operation of electronic sweepstakes devices, as predicate offenses under the Louisiana Racketeering Act. The bill passed the House 87-11 on March 30 and cleared the Senate 27-9 on April 27. Representative Daryl Deshotel is the lead sponsor.
By adding sweepstakes-adjacent offenses to the state's RICO statute, HB 53 lets prosecutors pursue enterprise-level cases against operators rather than charging only individual violations. Racketeering convictions in Louisiana carry severe penalties, including prison terms of up to 50 years and fines of up to $1 million. Backers argue that this is the most efficient way to dismantle large operators without rebuilding the state's gambling code from scratch.
The legislative push follows Governor Landry's veto of SB 181, an earlier 2025 sweepstakes ban. At the time, Landry argued that existing enforcement tools were sufficient and a new prohibition was unnecessary. HB 53 is structured to address that critique directly by enhancing penalties under tools that already exist on the books, which may make it harder for the governor to veto on the same grounds.
A companion measure, HB 883 sponsored by Representative Michael Echols, passed the House 99-0 and would amend the state's gambling-by-computer definition to include dual-currency sweepstakes models explicitly. Attorney General Liz Murrill released an opinion last year declaring sweepstakes casinos illegal in Louisiana, and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board has issued more than 40 cease-and-desist letters since 2024, including notices to VGW and WOW Vegas. HB 53 would harden that enforcement posture into long-term statutory leverage.
What This Means for Players
Players in Tennessee and Louisiana should expect significant changes to platform availability if either bill is signed into law. Tennessee SB 2136 would force operators to block access from the state once it takes effect, and players should plan to redeem outstanding Sweeps Coins balances ahead of the effective date. Louisiana HB 53 does not change a player's individual exposure, but it sharply raises the legal risk for operators and is likely to accelerate voluntary withdrawals from the state, similar to the pattern seen after earlier cease-and-desist actions.
The combined Tennessee and Louisiana action keeps the 2026 trend intact. With Connecticut, New York, California, Montana, New Jersey, and Indiana already having enacted bans, and Maine plus Illinois moving forward on their own legislation, Tennessee and Louisiana are positioned to be the next states to formally close their markets to sweepstakes casino operators.