The Louisiana Gaming Control Board, working with the state’s Attorney General, issued 40 cease-and-desist letters to offshore wagering platforms and free-to-play sweepstakes sites that it says are skirting state gaming laws.
On the same day, the Mississippi Gaming Commission sent out 10 letters demanding that nine offshore betting sites and one well-known sweepstakes brand stop offering games-of-chance to Mississippi residents.
These coordinated enforcement actions underscore growing concerns over unregulated online sweepstakes casinos operating across state lines.
What Happened in Louisiana
In Louisiana, the Gaming Control Board announced it had targeted a wide array of offshore sweepstakes operators whose business models “circumvent state gaming laws.”
These platforms often offer free-to-play games with a chance to win cash prizes by purchasing virtual tokens or points. Regulators say such operators blur the line between legal sweepstakes and illegal gambling.
Last week, Governor Jeff Landry vetoed Senate Bill 181, which would have outright banned sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana.
In his veto message, Landry argued that existing enforcement powers are sufficient and warned that overly broad legislation might hamper ongoing actions against illegal operators.
He wrote that the Board and the Attorney General’s office would “continue to issue additional cease-and-desist letters” as needed.
Although the Board did not publicly name the 40 entities receiving letters, industry observers believe the order included major sweepstakes brands such as Chumba Casino and its sister sites LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker, run by Australian operator VGW.
This move signals that regulators are prepared to act against both small operators and high-profile brands to protect Louisiana residents from unregulated wagering schemes.
What Happened in Mississippi
Meanwhile, the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC) took similar action, delivering 10 cease-and-desist letters to operators it deems unlicensed and illegal.
Nine of the letters went to offshore sportsbook and casino sites, and one was sent to Chumba Casino, marking the popular sweeps brand’s direct involvement in the crackdown.
The full list of operators targeted by Mississippi includes:
- BetWhale (betwhale.ag)
- BetUS (betus.com.pa)
- BetOnline (betonline.ag)
- MyBookie (mybookie.ag)
- Bovada (bovada.lv)
- Americas Cardroom (americascardroom.eu)
- Ignition Casino (ignitioncasino.eu)
- Las Atlantis (lasatlantis.com)
- SlotsandCasino (slotsandcasino.ag)
- Chumba Casino (chumbacasino.com)
According to the MGC, these companies “offer games of chance and sports betting products without the necessary permits,” misleading consumers by using branding that suggests they are licensed.
Commission officials say they are sharing criminal case files with state and federal law enforcement and may pursue prosecutions against offenders.
Mississippi’s action follows earlier legislative efforts to ban sweepstakes casinos, including a February 2025 bill passed by the state Senate.
Although that bill did not become law, regulators have made it clear they will not wait for legislation to curb illegal gaming. “The MGC will aggressively pursue both domestic and offshore illegal operators,” said Commission Chair Jay McDaniel.
