How Will 2026 Affect Sweeps Casino Industry? Gaming Attorney Goes In-Depth

Gaming attorney Joshua Kirschner was featured in a Q&A with Sweepsy about a new wave of legal scrutiny and regulatory pressure hitting the sweepstakes casino industry. The article described 2026 as a pivotal year marked by both legislative setbacks and continued resilience as some state enacted bans while other rejected similar bills. Mr. Kirschner, who serves as deputy team leader for Holland & Knight's Gaming Practice, discussed how the industry is evolving in response to increased oversight as regulators and legislators catch up with sector issues and trends, such as a pivot away from a dual-currency model and toward a single-currency model. He also talked about innovation and emphasized collaboration among companies, consumer protection agencies and enforcement officials as the market matures.

"Let's start with the obvious: 2026 was not the end of sweeps," he said, pushing back against concerns over the industry's future following state-level bans. "...I don't see that as a demise. I don't see a demise forthcoming. What I see is what happens in growing and evolving industries all the time, which is regulators and legislators catching up to issues, and then those who are already in the space innovating and responding to that legislation and regulation in a new way."

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