The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) strongly condemns the enactment of Senate Bill 555, which makes Montana the first state to ban online sweepstakes games, without using the word “sweepstakes.” This came Friday as Gov. Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bill 555 into law.
“This vague and sweeping law reclassifies legitimate, free-to-play promotional games as ‘internet gambling,’ ignoring the clear legal and operational distinctions between sweepstakes platforms and real-money online casinos,” the SPGA noted in its press release.
SPGA Says Montana’s Anti-Sweepstakes Law Sets A Dangerous Precedent
SB 555 has a provision that reads, “Internet gambling includes online casinos, by whatever name known, which constitute internet gambling and therefore are prohibited.”
The definition of “internet gambling” in the bill includes online casinos and platforms that offer casino-style games “that knowingly transmits or receives gambling information, allows consumers to place a bet or wager using any form of currency, and makes payouts of any form of currency.”
The measure reclassifies free-to-play promotional games as “internet gambling,” and the choice of language used essentially bans operators that provide dual-currency gambling.
“Montana just criminalized everyday digital promotions with a law so broadly written it fails to name what it bans,” said a spokesperson for SPGA. “It’s a dangerous precedent that could undermine consumer trust, business innovation, and long-standing legal marketing practices.”
Microsoft Rewards Now Considered Gambling?
The SPGA also cited Microsoft Rewards, an active national program where users earn points for using Microsoft products and can redeem those points to enter sweepstakes for prizes, including a current $2 million giveaway.
No purchase is necessary to participate, but points can also be redeemed to increase one’s number of entries.
Under SB 555, Microsoft Rewards would be considered gambling since it involves digital currency, even though they’ve long been considered lawful promotions.
“Montana’s lawmakers have taken a reckless step, ignoring the economic and consumer consequences, and diverging from states like Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, and Florida, which have all rejected similar bans in 2025,” the SPGA added.
“The SPGA urges lawmakers nationwide to reject vague prohibition and instead protect consumer choice through smart, modern frameworks, if action is even needed at all.”
The new law goes into effect Oct. 1, 2025.