Connecticut bans sweepstakes casinos after 22-0 vote

A sweepstakes casino ban has passed in Connecticut after a landslide vote. This comes as the US tries to regulate this mostly unregulated style of gambling.

Bill SB 1235 won out on Monday with a 22-0 vote. It puts a blanket ban on sweepstakes casinos, as well as a couple of additional moves to further regulate gambling in the state.

The bill is far-reaching, with sweepstakes casinos taking the brunt of the changes. SB 1235 changes put a block on sweepstakes “or promotional drawings” that cannot operate in “certain real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering.”

Sweepstakes casinos operate on “gold coins” and “sweep coins”. You’ll buy gold coins, and in the bundle, the sweep coins are included, which usually have a one-to-one value with the dollar. The gold coins are used to play the games without any risk, but the sweep coins will net you prizes and cash.

These websites usually operate under the guise of looking like a usual casino site, which the bill is now preventing. There’s concern over a lack of regulation around sweepstakes casinos, with Maryland and New Jersey also seeking bans.

Illegal gambling operations will now be met with a Class D felony. This means that if caught, there’s a potential five years in prison and a $5000 fine. There are also more rules coming in for those running gambling businesses.

New restrictions on what can be advertised and a requirement for “vendor and affiliate licensees to provide books and records”.

SB 1235 also introduces new rules around the lottery. Similar to what’s happening in Texas right now, Connecticut is pushing back on allowing the resale of lottery tickets and courier services.

Lottery courier services are third-party platforms that allow you to buy tickets in any state where they operate. The service then handles winnings and payments.

What’s not being banned is betting on boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). Boxing events have boomed in terms of betting, as more spectacle fights are put on. Meanwhile, companies like TKO’s UFC and other MMA organisations draw a huge gambling audience with their unwavering randomness.

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