A new bill has been filed in Tennessee by Rep. Scott Cepicky that targets online sweepstakes casinos and could see some classified as illegal in the voluntary state.
House Bill 1885 opens by suggesting that there is an “increasing presence in Tennessee of illegal traffic.” online draw casinos and other forms of online gaming which are often marketed as legal, free-to-play social gaming platforms and which use a promotional sweepstakes model…”
He describes online sweepstakes casinos as typically using a system in which people can play casino-style games with virtual currency and exchange the virtual currency for cash or other real-world prizes.
According to the bill, “under this promotional sweepstakes model, consumers are enticed to purchase virtual currency under the false impression that they are not participating in illegal gaming when in fact their payments allow them to participate in games of chance that award real prizes…”
It was on January 21 that the partisan bill was introduced, in its infancy. Although there is still a very long way to go, other states have seen similar bills pass.
It was early January when Virginia Delegate Marcus Simon pre-filed House Bill 161 (HB161). This bill would prohibit any form of sweepstakes not conducted by a licensed operator in Virginia, other than online casino games.
If approved, any violation of the bill would result in a “civil penalty of not more than $100,000 for the first offense and not more than $250,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. Each day such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.”
“The Council, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Department of State Police may conduct investigations into violations of this section,” HB161 reads. “The Commission and the Office of the Attorney General shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this section, including by conducting hearings, issuing cease and desist letters, and issuing subpoenas to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section. »
Amid the wave of anti-competition bills, other states are seeing similar bills, including Florida, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi and others.
Featured Image: Via HAL333 on Wikimedia Commons
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