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Tennessee lawmakers pushed HB 1885 one step further, giving more shape to a bill aimed at online sweepstakes casinos. A unanimous committee vote sent the measure ahead for another review, keeping pressure on unregulated gambling platforms in the state.
Good to Know
HB 1885 kept rolling in Tennessee after lawmakers approved it in the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee. From here, the bill heads to the Calendar and Rules Committee. Rep. Scott Cepicky introduced the measure earlier in the session, and Rep. Clay Doggett also backed it.
At the center of the bill is a clear target. Tennessee wants to go after online sweepstakes casinos that present themselves as legal, free-to-play social gaming sites while using a promotional sweepstakes setup. In plain terms, the bill focuses on platforms where players use virtual currency on casino-style games and later swap that value for virtual cash or real-world prizes.
That wording matters because lawmakers are trying to separate those sites from legal gaming businesses already covered under state rules. Instead of touching regulated operators, HB 1885 goes after internet gambling platforms operating outside that system.
Enforcement is a big part of the package. By tying violations to the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, the bill would give the Attorney General more room to act. Investigators could require sworn statements, review business records, and seek action to stop evidence from being destroyed.
Penalties would also get tougher. The bill allows civil fines of up to $1,000 per document when records are falsified or concealed. It would also remove an older six-month statute of limitations, giving authorities more time to bring enforcement cases.