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Lawmakers in Indiana are considering legislation that would prohibit sweepstakes casinos.
The House Public Policy Committee endorsed a bill on Tuesday allowing online lottery sales while discussing a separate proposal by the committee that would prohibit so-called online “sweepstakes” games in which players can win money from simulated casino games.
House Bill 1052, introduced by Rep. Ethan Manning, is more broad in nature with the exact language as follows:
Adds conditions for which the horse racing commission (HRC) may revoke or suspend a license or deny a license application. Provides that appeals of certain decisions of the HRC may be appealed to the office of administrative law proceedings. Adds sports wagering certificate holders to the voluntary exclusion program. Defines and establishes civil and criminal penalties for conducting a "sweepstakes game". Establishes requirements for the wholesale sale and distribution of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. Adds additional information an applicant must provide to the alcohol and tobacco commission when applying for a tobacco sales certificate. Provides for the suspension of a certificate if the certificate holder's employees violate employee identification requirements three or more times in one year. Provides that a person who refuses to provide identifying information to a law enforcement officer under certain circumstances commits a Class C misdemeanor.
Such games are not specifically covered by Indiana law. This prohibits gaming regulators from any type of enforcement measures against these social casinos.
indiana's 13 state-regulated casinos are not allowed to offer online gambling at this time. They can offer sports betting through state-licensed partnerships.
Sweepstakes casinos have gained an estimated 200,000 players in Indiana, said Sean Ostrow of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, an industry lobbying group.
“People are going to sweeps because that’s what’s available right now, even though it’s a black or gray market, depending on your perspective,” said Manning, R-Logansport. “But if i-gaming were legal here … there wouldn’t be much market for the sweeps casinos.”
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
