New Jersey Targets Sweeps Ban in Major Reversal

New Jersey has changed its stance on Sweepstakes casinos, and New Jersey Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese has introduced a bill that proposes banning Sweepstakes casinos completely.

Early in the month, Calabrese himself proposed a new and intriguing bill (A5196) that would legitimize Sweeps casinos by incorporating them into the state’s online gambling regulations. New Jersey is one of the seven states with legalized gambling, and Calabrese proposed that Sweeps casinos adhere to full online gambling regulations rather than the Sweepstakes laws that currently cover their operations.

Now, Calabrese has abandoned this idea completely and introduced a revised bill, A5447, which proposes an outright ban on Sweeps casinos. The new bill targets the model directly, and there’s no doubt about the wording.

“Prohibits sweepstakes model of wagering; establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations and practices; directs Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to enforce penalties,’ it said.

States Turn Against Sweeps Model?

The entire Sweepstakes casino business model has come under fire recently, with New York, Florida, Mississippi, Connecticut, and Maryland introducing legislation to ban them. Other states have used existing laws to declare the model illegal, and Michigan, Delaware, and West Virginia have sent a series of cease-and-desist letters to operators. Calabrese’s proposed bill looked like a silver lining to this ominous cloud of hostile action, but now New Jersey has joined the other states in seeking an outright ban.

The American Gaming Association and National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) both called for a ban and encouraged state legislators to take action. 

Despite the adverse climate, Sweepstakes casinos are one of the fastest-growing sectors of the industry. Their annual revenue was $3 billion in 2023, and some sources estimate Sweepstakes casinos will bring in $11 billion globally this year. Major names like BCGame.US are joining the fray all the time. There are more than 85 Sweepstakes casinos on the market, and their availability to US players makes the best Sweepstakes casinos a huge money-spinner.