Louisiana has finally come around to branding sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling with HB 883, but HB 53 is poised to be an even harsher deterrent for illegal sweepstakes activities in the state by classifying it under racketeering laws.
With these Louisiana sweeps casino laws, the Pelican State is on its way to becoming the harshest anti-sweeps state in the US. Racketeering laws target organized crime in the state, and with sweepstakes casinos now placed under the same umbrella, violators will suffer severe penalties, up to 50 years of jail time and $1 million in fines.
Louisiana began cracking down on sweepstakes casinos with cease and desist letters last year, which led legit operators to back out of the market pre-emptively. With the passing of HB 883, Louisiana became the 4th state to sign off on anti-sweepstakes laws in 2026. The wording in the bill broadened the definition of “gambling by computer” to include sweepstakes casinos, thereby classifying sweepstakes as illegal gambling.
Under HB 883, not only operators but also game suppliers and even customers would be breaking the law by engaging in sweepstakes gaming within the state.
With HB 53, several prohibited activities have been moved under racketeering laws, including “gambling by computer,” which now comprises sweepstakes operations. Under LA racketeering laws, sweepstakes gaming becomes a much more serious offense liable for severe penalties.
Guilty parties may face up to 50 years of hard labor and pay penalties in fines reaching $1 million. And this isn’t limited to large-scale operations. Even those engaging in smaller-scale promotions could still face multi-year prison sentences.
HB 53 clearly seeks to deter unlicensed companies from operating in the state, while protecting the interests of its fast-growing regulated sports betting market, the only legal online gambling allowed in the state.
According to official reports, Gov. Jeff Landry signed HB 53 into law on May 11, with the effective date set for August 1, 2026. Landry also gave approval for HB 883 on May 15, with the same effective date as HB 53.
The Governor had vetoed a previous anti-sweepstakes bill in 2025, arguing that the state already had laws in place to handle sweepstakes casinos. So there was a bit of speculation surrounding what his decision would be regarding fresh efforts targeting sweepstakes sites. However, the bill quickly gained strong bipartisan support, perhaps prompting Gov. Landry to put the final nail in the coffin by signing it into law.
The reality is that HB 53, along with HB 883, leave no room for legit sweeps operators to function in the state. And any platforms still live in the state have to close up by August 1. Players should beware of joining illegitimate sweepstakes providers, as the scope of enforcement now includes all liable parties, not just operators.
Although Louisiana players won’t find any verified sweepstakes sites offering Sweeps Coins games and redemptions in LA, single-currency sweepstakes sites are still available as alternatives. HB 883 defines dual-currency sweepstakes as illegal gambling. Since single-currency sweepstakes sites allow you to enter games for fun with only Gold Coins, they remain legal. You won’t be able to collect any prizes, but you can still enjoy your favorite slots and casino-style games.
Louisiana has been one of the harshest critics of the sweepstakes gaming model, and the state has now passed some of the strictest anti-sweeps laws seen in the US since the crackdowns began. HB 883 classified sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling, and HB 53 moves sweeps gaming and other gambling crimes under racketeering laws.
Even though most brands had already backed away from the market, the implications of Louisiana’s new laws mean that sweepstakes are not just illegal; they are now subject to serious penalties for operators and other contributors who fall outside the legal framework. Remember that you can find legal sweeps sites on the banners here.
