The Department of Consumer Protection reported that DraftKings will refund over $3 million to 7,000 Connecticut consumers participating in certain bonus offers.An...
Connecticut Is the 2nd State to Ban Sweepstakes Casinos
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 1235 into law last Wednesday, making it the second state after Montana to ban online sweepstakes casinos.
The legislation passed seamlessly, with a 146-0 vote in the House of Representatives and a 36-0 vote in the Senate. The bill restricts the operation or promotion of sweepstakes, as well as promotional drawings that use simulated gambling devices or promote online casino gaming and sports betting, unless operators hold specific state licences. Any person conducting prohibited sweepstakes activities will face penalties for professional gambling.
The law has an exception for retail grocery chains with 5 or more locations, allowing them to run sweepstakes related to grocery sales where prizes are store discounts and not cash rewards.
The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), one of the two sweepstake casino trade bodies, shared on the decision:
“Unfortunately, Connecticut’s sweeping legislation fails to distinguish between lawful promotional sweepstakes and unregulated gambling, despite the absence of any meaningful evidence of consumer harm.
Instead of engaging with operators who prioritise consumer protections, compliance, and responsible standards, lawmakers have chosen a path that will harm innovation, limit consumer choice, and push compliant businesses out of the state.
SPGA remains committed to advocating for sound, informed policy that reflects the clear legal distinctions between sweepstakes and gambling.”
Other states are considering similar measures after the Connecticut ban. The New York Assembly Rules Committee recently approved a measure to ban online sweepstakes competitions that simulate casino-style games.
At the same time, Louisiana was on the verge of banning sweepstakes last week, but Governor Jeff Landry rejected the ban, stating that the new legislation wasn’t needed.
The corporation first issued the RFQ during the beginning of April, as it looked for applications from sports betting providers who had extensive experience in the industry....
