Status Update — May 2026: Two Maryland bills targeting sweepstakes casinos — HB295 and HB1226 — died in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on April 13, 2026. The 2026 Maryland legislative session has ended without either bill advancing to a floor vote. Sweepstakes casinos remain legal and operational in Maryland under federal promotional sweepstakes law. The next opportunity for similar legislation is the 2027 Maryland session, beginning January 2027.
For Maryland sweepstakes players, the April 13 outcome closes the door on a 2026 ban. Which platforms accept Maryland players is a separate question that each operator decides for itself, and several have restricted Maryland after regulator letters, so check each platform's own eligibility rules before you sign up.
What HB295 and HB1226 Would Have Done
Both bills shared the same legislative goal: redefine sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling under Maryland law and impose penalties on operators and, in some drafts, on participating players.
HB295 was the more aggressive of the two. It defined "online sweepstakes gambling" using the dual-currency Gold Coin / Sweep Coin model as the trigger, and made operating such a platform a misdemeanour with operator penalties up to $50,000 per day of violation. Player participation language was softened in committee amendments but originally included civil penalties.
HB1226 was a narrower companion bill that focused on unlicensed gambling more broadly, with sweepstakes operations folded in as one targeted category. HB1226 was less specific on penalty structure but carried the same effect for sweepstakes operators: operations would have been classified as illegal gambling.
Either bill, if signed, would have forced sweepstakes operators to geo-block Maryland IPs on the bill's effective date — the same pattern California operators followed when AB 831 took effect on January 1, 2026.
Why Both Bills Failed
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee did not advance either bill before the session-end deadline on April 13, 2026. Three factors contributed:
- No fiscal note in either bill's favour. Maryland's existing tax revenue from licensed gambling (lottery, land-based casinos, sportsbooks) is substantial and growing. The fiscal-note analysis on both bills did not project meaningful state revenue gain from a sweepstakes ban — the operations are not state-taxed regardless of legality.
- Industry counter-mobilisation. The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) and individual operators submitted committee testimony arguing federal preemption and the structural distinction between sweepstakes and gambling. The committee did not need to resolve the merits of that argument; it simply chose not to advance.
- Session-end calendar pressure. Maryland's 2026 session was tight on committee bandwidth. Bills without strong floor sponsorship rarely clear committee in the final week, and neither HB295 nor HB1226 had sufficient floor advocacy.
The committee's inaction was not a vote on the merits — it was a procedural decision to let the bills expire. That procedural decision has the same effect for the 2026 session as a no-vote: both bills are dead.
Current Legal Status — Maryland Sweepstakes Casinos in May 2026 ✅ LEGAL
As of May 2026, sweepstakes casinos that operate under federal promotional sweepstakes law are legal and available in Maryland. The position has not changed since the bills died on April 13. There is no Maryland AG directive against sweepstakes operators, no active enforcement, and no other pending legislation in the 2026 session.
The platforms our team currently lists for Maryland players, with their current welcome offers, are on our Maryland sweepstakes casino reviews page.
Next Possible Retry — 2027 Maryland Session
Maryland legislators who supported HB295 or HB1226 may reintroduce the legislation in the 2027 session, which begins in January 2027. Reintroduction is procedurally straightforward; what would change between now and then is:
- Federal-court rulings on sweepstakes legality. If a federal court rules on the consideration question in any of the pending sweepstakes-related cases, that ruling shapes 2027 state legislation.
- Other state outcomes. California's AB 831 enforcement track record through 2026 — whether the law has been challenged, struck down, or normalised — affects how other states view the model.
- Tribal gaming pressure. In states with strong tribal gaming compacts, tribal coalitions have led the legislative push against sweepstakes operators. Maryland's tribal gaming footprint is small relative to states like California, which limits this pressure but does not eliminate it.
We will track any 2027 Maryland reintroduction on our guides page.
What This Means for Maryland Sweepstakes Players
No action required. Players who hold sweepstakes accounts continue to play normally. There is no withdrawal deadline, no account migration, no geo-block trigger.
Bonus terms unchanged. Operators have not announced post-April-13 changes to Maryland-eligible bonuses. We refresh bonus tracking weekly and any operator-side change will be reflected on our Maryland reviews page.
Continue normal verification. Maryland's identity verification expectations at first redemption (KYC) are unchanged. Operators will continue to verify SSN digits, address, and government ID at the redemption threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Maryland?
Yes. As of May 2026, sweepstakes casinos operating under federal promotional sweepstakes law are legal and available in Maryland. The 2026 bills (HB295 and HB1226) that would have banned them died in committee on April 13.
Did Maryland ban sweepstakes casinos in 2026?
No. Both HB295 and HB1226 — the two 2026 bills targeting sweepstakes casinos — failed to clear the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee before session end on April 13, 2026. Sweepstakes casinos remain operational in Maryland.
When is the next Maryland gambling legislation vote?
The 2026 Maryland legislative session ended April 13. The 2027 session begins in January 2027. Any reintroduction of sweepstakes-targeted legislation would happen then. We will update our Maryland coverage when the 2027 calendar is published.
Is Maryland's AG taking action against sweepstakes operators?
No active enforcement is in place as of April 2026. Maryland has not issued an AG directive against sweepstakes operators analogous to the Minnesota AG Ellison guidance.
What happens to my Maryland sweepstakes account now that the bills failed?
Nothing changes. Continue to play normally, claim bonuses normally, and redeem Sweep Coins normally. Operators have not announced any Maryland-eligibility changes following the April 13 committee action.
AMOE (Alternate Method of Entry) — How It Works in Maryland
Sweepstakes casinos operating in Maryland use the federal promotional sweepstakes model. You are never required to purchase anything to participate. The Alternate Method of Entry (AMOE) allows Maryland residents to request free Sweep Coins by:
- Online AMOE: Fill out a free entry form on the operator's website (no purchase required)
- Postal AMOE: Send a handwritten request to the operator's mailing address with your name, address, and email
This is how the sweepstakes model maintains its legal distinction from gambling under Maryland law.
Frequently Asked Questions — Maryland Sweepstakes 2026
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Maryland?
Yes. As of May 2026, sweepstakes casinos operating under federal promotional sweepstakes law are legal and available in Maryland. The 2026 bills (HB295 and HB1226) that would have banned them died in committee on April 13, 2026. The 2026 Maryland legislative session has ended.
Did Maryland ban sweepstakes casinos in 2026?
No. Both HB295 and HB1226 — the two 2026 bills targeting sweepstakes casinos — failed to clear the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee before session end on April 13, 2026. Sweepstakes casinos remain operational in Maryland.
When is the next Maryland gambling legislation vote?
The 2026 Maryland legislative session ended April 13. The 2027 session begins in January 2027. Any reintroduction of sweepstakes-targeted legislation would happen then.
Is Maryland's AG taking action against sweepstakes operators?
No active enforcement is in place as of May 2026. Maryland has not issued an AG directive against sweepstakes operators.
Do I need to purchase to play sweepstakes casinos in Maryland?
No. All licensed sweepstakes operators offer an AMOE (Alternate Method of Entry) — you can request Sweep Coins free of charge by mail or online form. No purchase is ever required to win prizes.
What happens to my Maryland sweepstakes account now that the bills failed?
Nothing changes. Continue to play normally, claim bonuses normally, and redeem Sweep Coins normally.
Updated: May 3, 2026. | dateModified: 2026-05-03
