SBA loan basics
Short answer
No, businesses engaged in gambling, adult entertainment, or certain other specific industries are generally ineligible for SBA 7(a) loans.
SBA regulations explicitly prohibit certain types of businesses from receiving loans. This includes businesses whose primary purpose involves gambling, such as casinos or racetracks, or those involved in the production or distribution of products or services of a prurient sexual nature.
A company operating a poker room as its main revenue source would be ineligible. Similarly, a business primarily selling adult-themed products would not qualify for an SBA 7(a) loan.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
7(a) Loan Program — Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility
U.S. Small Business Administration · Official SBA source
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
Last checked 2026-06-14. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-14 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-14. DealRoom analysis of public SBA 7(a) lending records (FY2020–present). Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against the official sources above before relying on it for a live deal. Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision.
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