The Connecticut House passed the bill to ban sweepstakes casino already approved by the Senate, leaving Gov. Ned Lamont’s signature as the last step for the measure to become law.
Senate Bill 1235 passed in the House on Tuesday with amendments following a 146-0 vote. The bill, sponsored by the House General Law Committee, was introduced in February before passing in the Senate where it underwent several amendments, including the removal of a prohibition on lottery couriers and a provision that would have allowed state online casinos to compact with other states.
The measure reached the House where it was unanimously approved with changes.
Under SB 1235, individuals and companies are prohibited from conducting or promoting a sweepstakes or a promotional drawing that is “not related to the bona fide sale of goods, services or property.” The bill criminalizes conducting or promoting sweepstakes using simulated gambling devices and sweepstakes tied to online casinos and sports betting.
Anyone who violate those provisions of SB 1235 are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
The measure allows a retail grocery chain to only conduct or promote sweepstakes games if the contest is related to the sale of groceries and does not offer a prize that is redeemable for cash.
If Lamont does not sign SB 1235 within 15 days of the bill passing then the measure would still become law unless the governor expressly vetoes the bill.
Connecticut could join Montana with sweepstakes ban
SB 1235 was approved by both legislative chambers one day before the end of Connecticut’s current legislative session. If signed by Lamont, Connecticut would join Montana as the second state to pass some sort of law aimed at restricting sweeps casinos this year..
Last month, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bill 555, a measure which amends the state’s existing gaming law to prohibit the operation of online casinos.
Under SB 555, the ban on online casinos in Montana “includes but is not limited to any platform, website, or application that knowingly transmits or receives gambling information, allows consumers to place a bet or wager using any form of currency.”
The forms of currency apply to dual-currency systems offered by sweepstakes operators.
Connecticut and Montana are not the only states taking a stance against sweepstakes. Lawmakers in Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio and New York are also considering a ban.
