Minnesota House Bill HF4410

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/16/26
• Refer: 3/16/26
• Refer: 4/7/26

Caption

Online sweepstakes games prohibited.

Summary

HF4410 would create a new section in Minnesota Statutes chapter 325F to prohibit “online sweepstakes games” in Minnesota. The bill defines an online sweepstakes game as an internet- or mobile-accessible game, contest, or promotion that uses a dual-currency payment system and simulates casino-style or other gambling activity, where participants can win prizes, cash, or cash equivalents. It also defines “dual-currency” broadly to cover direct or indirect consideration tied to a related product, service, or activity. The bill makes it unlawful for any person or entity to operate, conduct, or promote such games in Minnesota. The prohibition extends beyond the game operator to a wide range of related parties, including applicants, licensed entities, financial institutions, payment processors, geolocation providers, gaming content suppliers, platform providers, and media affiliates. It also directs the commissioner of public safety and the attorney general to deny or stop operations by persons or affiliates that knowingly accept revenue derived from an online sweepstakes game and to enforce penalties for prohibited conduct.

Impact

HF4410 would add a new consumer-protection and gambling-related restriction to Minnesota law by expressly banning online sweepstakes games and related support services. It would affect operators and a broad ecosystem of businesses that facilitate digital gaming and payments, and it would incorporate existing penalty provisions from section 325F.755, subdivision 7, for violations. The bill would also give enforcement authority to the commissioner of public safety and the attorney general, expanding state oversight over internet-based promotional gaming and sweepstakes models.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a regulatory and enforcement bill aimed at curbing gambling-like online promotions. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, so no direct evidence of support or opposition is available from the legislative record included here. The bill’s introduction and referral to the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee suggest it was treated as a commerce and consumer-regulation issue rather than a broader gambling expansion measure.

Contention

The main point of contention likely concerns how broadly the bill defines and bans online sweepstakes games and how far liability extends to third parties. The inclusion of financial institutions, payment processors, geolocation providers, platform providers, media affiliates, and other supporting entities could raise concerns from digital commerce, advertising, and gaming-adjacent industries about overbreadth and compliance burdens. Another likely issue is the definition of “dual-currency” and whether legitimate promotional contests or loyalty-style programs could be swept into the prohibition if they involve indirect consideration or prize eligibility.