House Bill 1885, which seeks to ban sweepstakes casinos in Tennessee, has passed a House subcommittee with an 8-0 vote and has now moved to the State and Local Government...
Tennessee Legislature approves bill to ban sweepstakes
Tennessee’s Legislature has approved SB 2136, which aims to ban sweepstakes casinos in the state, after extended disputes and revisions between the House and the Senate.
During the discussions, a final compromise measure was agreed on, which means that sweepstakes will be criminalized under consumer protection law, as the bill is now awaiting Governor Bill Lee’s final approval. If passed, Tennessee will become the third state, after Indiana and Maine, to ban sweepstakes in 2026.
Initially, the bill was passed by the Senate in March 2026, but the House made changes in the language of the bill, which was later rejected by the Senate. This led to the creation of a conference committee responsible for coming up with a solution. As a result, both sides approved an amended version of the bill, which included the original language of the legislation.
The final version of the bill defines sweepstakes as:
(A) Is available on the internet and is accessible on a mobile phone, computer terminal, or similarly accessible device;
(B) Utilizes a virtual-currency, dual-currency, or multi-currency system allowing a player to:
(i) Play or participate with a currency, such as a virtual coin, token, or other representation of value, that is directly purchased, received through a bonus or promotion, or received for free with the purchase of another type of currency or related product, service, or activity; and
(ii) Exchange the currency for a prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent, or the chance to win a prize, award, cash, or cash equivalent; and
(C) Simulates gambling of any kind, including, but not limited to, casino-style gaming such as slot machines, video poker, table games, lottery games, bingo, or unlicensed sports wagering.”
According to the bill, operating or promoting such platforms will be considered a felony, with civil fines and gambling-related charges to be enforced in case of violations.
SB 2136 will immediately become law if the Governor doesn’t act within 10 days.
The Senates of Tennessee and Oklahoma have passed bills that target sweepstakes casinos as state-level crackdowns on dual-currency platforms increase.Tennessee’s Senate...
