Pennsylvania lawmakers have filed House Bill 2801, which would make it unlawful to operate, conduct or promote online sweepstakes casino games in the state. Fines would run from $50,000 to $500,000 per violation, according to Legal Sports Report. In mid-October 2026 the bill was in the House Gaming Oversight Committee and had not had a hearing. Sweepstakes casinos are not banned in Pennsylvania today.
What HB 2801 would do
Rep. Russ Diamond introduced the bill in late September 2026; it was referred to the House Gaming Oversight Committee on 24 September, in the 2025-26 session, according to LegiScan. Covers lists Reps. Jacob Banta, Brad Roae, Dan Moul and Jeanne McNeill as sponsors alongside him. Trade reports describe these main points:
| Provision | As reported |
|---|---|
| What is banned | Operating, conducting or promoting online sweepstakes games, and helping to run them |
| Definition | Online games that use a dual-currency system with prizes or cash equivalents and simulate casino-style gaming, including slots, table games, lottery-style games and sports wagering |
| Excluded | Social casino games that award no cash prizes or equivalent rewards |
| Fines | $50,000 to $500,000 per violation |
| Other penalties | Revocation of a Pennsylvania gaming licence and a bar on receiving one |
| Enforcement | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (investigations, hearings, subpoenas, cease-and-desist orders); the Attorney General may also investigate |
A dual-currency system is the model most sweepstakes casinos use: one coin you buy for play, and a second "sweeps" coin that can be redeemed for prizes. Our guide to how sweepstakes casinos work explains it in full.
Covers adds that the Gaming Control Board has said its powers over sweepstakes operators under current law are limited. At an April 2025 hearing it disclosed 18 cease-and-desist notices to sweepstakes platforms.
Will it pass this year?
Time is short. Legal Sports Report notes that Pennsylvania's session runs through 30 November 2026 and bills do not carry over to 2027, so HB 2801 would need to pass both chambers and be signed by then or be filed again next session.
The sweepstakes ban is one part of a wider gaming bill. TheLines reports it would also extend regulation of video gaming terminals, which could let skill-style machines return under a licensed framework.
The skill games link
On 15 June 2026 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that skill games are slot machines under the Gaming Act. Pennsylvania State Police said machines outside businesses licensed by the Gaming Control Board became unlawful from 14 October 2026, with seizure and criminal charges possible. That is a separate matter from online sweepstakes casinos, but both sit in the same legislative debate.
What it means for players
Nothing changes yet. If you hold a sweepstakes balance, keep screenshots of it and your redemption history, and read the site's terms on closing accounts. Oklahoma's ban shows how this can play out: see Oklahoma's sweepstakes casino ban and our map of where sweepstakes casinos are banned.
If a site closes or delays a redemption, ask in writing for its timetable and keep every reply; our complaint evidence checklist shows what to save. If a possible closure has you tempted to play through a balance quickly, free limit and blocking tools can help.
Questions people ask
Are sweepstakes casinos being banned in Pennsylvania?
Not yet. HB 2801 would ban them, but in mid-October 2026 it had only been referred to the House Gaming Oversight Committee. It would need to pass the House and Senate and be signed by the governor. Legal Sports Report notes the session runs to 30 November 2026 and bills do not carry over, so a bill that misses that date would have to be filed again.
What happens to my Sweeps Coins if Pennsylvania bans sweepstakes casinos?
The bill as reported does not set out a redemption process for players. In states that have already banned the model, such as Oklahoma, operators set their own closing dates for play and prize redemption. If a ban looks likely, read your site's terms on redemption and keep records of your balance, so you can act before any deadline the operator sets.
Does HB 2801 affect social casinos without prizes?
No, according to Covers. The bill targets casino-style games that use a dual-currency system letting players exchange currency for prizes, cash or cash equivalents, and it excludes social casino games that offer no cash prizes or equivalent rewards. A social casino where coins can never be redeemed for anything of value would fall outside it.
Is the bill connected to the Pennsylvania skill games ruling?
Partly. TheLines reports that HB 2801 would also extend regulation of video gaming terminals, which could let skill-style machines return under a licensed framework. Separately, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on 15 June 2026 that skill games are slot machines under the Gaming Act, and State Police said unlicensed machines face seizure from 14 October 2026.
Sources
- Legal Sports Report: PA, Wyoming legislators want to ban sweepstakes casinos (9 October 2026)
- Covers: Pennsylvania lawmakers propose ban on sweepstakes casinos and $500,000 fines (13 October 2026)
- TheLines: Pennsylvania skill games ban comes in, sweepstakes casino future still in doubt (15 October 2026)
- Pennsylvania State Police: PSP reminds businesses of skill games deadline (5 October 2026)
- LegiScan: Pennsylvania HB 2801, 2025-2026 regular session (status and history)
Facts checked 22 Oct 2026. Compliance review 22 Oct 2026.
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