Verticals / Sweepstakes casinos
Sweepstakes casinos
Sweepstakes casinos are banned or blocked in 16 states, contested in 21 states and allowed in a limited form in 2 states as of Oct 11, 2026.
Dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos.
LiveLegal, not launchedLimitedContestedProhibitedNot authorizedRepealedNA
By state
| State | Status | Launched | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Limited | Follow-up research found an actual, on-record "HB1234": Colorado HB18-1234 ("Internet Sweepstakes Cafe Revise Legal Terms"), signed 2018-06-06, which amended the definitions of "gambling," "prize," and "simulated gambling device" to bring certain skill-game amusement devices within the simulated-gambling framework, subject to a de minimis prize-value threshold, and built on a 2015 law (HB15-1047, signed 2015-03-13) that made internet sweepstakes cafes illegal in Colorado. This resolves the brick-and-mortar sweepstakes-cafe question (restricted/limited since 2015, refined 2018) but is NOT the same thing as modern online dual-currency "sweepstakes casino" platforms (e.g., Chumba, LuckyLand); no Colorado-specific 2024-2026 ban or enabling action targeting those online platforms was found, and a 2026 industry roundup of state sweepstakes-casino-ban activity does not list Colorado among enacting states. The original "HB1234" reference flagged in this file's first draft could not be matched to any 2024-25 bill; it may be a trade-press mix-up with HB18-1234's number. | ||
| Massachusetts | Limited | No explicit statutory ban. Dual-currency sweepstakes casinos operate in a gray area; the MGC has said online casino gaming generally is not legal in Massachusetts but has not asserted jurisdiction over sweepstakes operators, and the AG has not brought a reported enforcement action against a sweepstakes-casino operator specifically. H.4431 would have imposed an explicit ban alongside legalizing regulated iGaming, but the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies sent it to study on Mar. 16, 2026 (effectively killing it for the session), so no ban took effect. Other states acted in 2026 (e.g. Maine's LD 2007, signed Apr. 2026); Massachusetts has not followed as of Oct. 2026. | ||
| Arizona | Contested | No Arizona statute specifically names or bans dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, but the Department of Gaming has run enforcement sweeps treating them as illegal gambling: in April 2025 it sent cease-and-desist letters to seven operators (including Stake.us) citing A.R.S. §§ 5-101 et seq. and Title 13, Chapter 33 (the criminal gambling code), and issued further cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes operators again around June 2025. | ||
| Arkansas | Contested | No Arkansas-specific sweepstakes-casino ban has passed. A March 2025 bill package (SB 524/HB 1861) would have both legalized iGaming at the state's three casinos and banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as a felony; SB 524 was withdrawn and HB 1861 was pulled and referred to a House Judiciary Committee interim study ahead of the 2026 fiscal session. Sweepstakes casinos remain, by default, the only online casino-style option available to Arkansas residents. | ||
| Florida | Contested | No dedicated sweepstakes-casino statute or legislative ban is currently in force; the Legislature has repeatedly failed to pass one (HB 953/SB 1404 and HB 1467 died in 2025; HB 591/SB 204, filed for the 2026 session to make "internet gambling" a third-degree felony effective Oct. 1, 2026, also died when the regular session ended March 13, 2026 without a final floor vote). Enforcement has instead come through existing gambling law: Attorney General James Uthmeier sued Stake (Stake.us) and VGW Holdings (Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots/Casino, Global Poker) in Hillsborough County Circuit Court on August 19, 2026, alleging their dual-currency sweepstakes platforms are illegal online casinos under existing Florida gambling statutes and the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Uthmeier: "These companies cannot hide illegal gambling behind a sweepstakes label." The suits seek injunctions, forfeiture of prior winnings, and civil penalties up to $15,000 per willful violation; no ruling on the merits had been identified as of this research. The AG's office separately subpoenaed other sweepstakes operators per secondary reporting, without filing suit against all of them. | ||
| Georgia | Contested | No Georgia statute specifically bans or authorizes dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. VGW (Chumba/Luckyland) has won three rounds of litigation in Georgia federal court (2023 arbitration order, 2024 standing dismissal, July 2025 dismissal) against class actions challenging its legality under Georgia's 2012 internet-cafe/sweepstakes enforcement framework; some operators (McLuck, Hello Millions, SpinBlitz, PlayFame, Zula Casino, Fortune Coins) re-opened to Georgia players in August 2025 while others (Mega Bonanza, Jackpota, Sportzino) still exclude it. | ||
| Illinois | Contested | No Illinois statute explicitly names "sweepstakes casinos," but the IGB and Attorney General treat dual-currency sweepstakes-casino play as unlicensed online gambling under 720 ILCS 5/28-1. In February 2026 the IGB and AG sent cease-and-desist letters to roughly 65 operators (including VGW's Chumba Casino/Luckyland Slots, Stake.us, Pulsz, Modo, Fliff) ordering them to block Illinois players; most major operators had not complied as of mid-2026. SB 1705 (104th GA), which would explicitly classify sweepstakes-casino devices as illegal gambling devices (Class 4 felony), passed committee review stages in 2025 but had not been enacted as of its last recorded action (4/11/2025, re-referred to Assignments). | ||
| Iowa | Contested | Competitive | Not a standalone named ban: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2289 (May 2026), a broader gambling-enforcement bill (Division I, amending Iowa Code ch. 99), effective 2026-07-01. It newly empowers the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to issue cease-and-desist orders and seek court injunctions against unlicensed gambling, sports wagering, and "illegal sweepstakes" operators -- previously IRGC could only warn residents, not take direct enforcement action. SF 2289's reach extends to payment processors, gaming content suppliers, platform providers, and media affiliates that knowingly support unlicensed operations; it also applies to unlicensed daily fantasy sports platforms. As of the sources reviewed, no sweepstakes-casino platform has yet excluded Iowa residents and no cease-and-desist orders under the new law had been reported. "Contested" reflects this new enforcement power and unresolved legal exposure rather than a self-executing ban. | |
| Kentucky | Contested | No dedicated Kentucky statute bans dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. On June 17, 2026, Attorney General Russell Coleman sued VGW Holdings (operator of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker) in Franklin Circuit Court, alleging its dual-currency "Sweeps Coins" model constitutes unlawful casino wagering in violation of Kentucky's Consumer Protection Law, Loss Recovery Act, and gambling laws; the suit was pending as of Oct. 2026. Separately, private lawsuits under Kentucky's Loss Recovery Act had already led most sweepstakes-casino operators to exit the state voluntarily before the AG suit was filed. | ||
| Maryland | Contested | No statutory ban has passed as of October 2026, despite two legislative sessions trying. The regulator (MLGCC) treats dual-currency sweepstakes platforms as illegal under existing law and has sent cease-and-desist letters to operators including Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots, Crown Coins Casino, Pulsz, and Fliff (estimated ~25% operator compliance), but sweepstakes casinos continue to operate in the state in a legal gray area. 2025 session: SB 860 passed the Senate unanimously but stalled in the House Ways and Means Committee; companion HB 1140 never advanced. 2026 session: HB 295 (banning multi-currency 'interactive games') passed the House 105-24 on 2026-03-20; HB 1226 (the Maryland Illegal Online Gambling Enforcement Act) passed the House 134-2 on 2026-03-23; neither received a Senate committee hearing before the General Assembly adjourned sine die April 13, 2026. Sponsors are expected to refile in 2027. Given the lack of an enacted ban, 'contested' better reflects the current legal posture than 'prohibited', though enforcement proceeds as if the activity were unauthorized gambling. | ||
| Mississippi | Contested | No dedicated sweepstakes-casino statute has passed; ban bills passed the Senate twice in a row (SB 2104 in 2026, 52-0, and a 2025 predecessor) but died in the House both times — in 2025 after the House attached online sports-wagering language that failed in conference, and in 2026 after the bill stalled in the House Gaming Committee ahead of the March 3 crossover deadline. Enforcement has instead used existing gambling law: on June 17, 2025, the Mississippi Gaming Commission sent cease-and-desist letters to 10 unlicensed operators, including Chumba Casino (VGW), stating publicly "there are no legal exceptions for online sports books or so-called 'sweepstakes' casinos." VGW subsequently wound down its dual-currency Sweeps Coins program in Mississippi (last redemption Sept. 4, 2025) while continuing free-play Gold Coins; a separate private suit (Saulny v. VGW, removed to S.D. Miss.) seeks recovery of gambling losses under Mississippi's money-lost-at-gaming statute. Other sweepstakes brands (e.g., Stake.us, Pulsz) were not named in the June 2025 letters per sources reviewed. | ||
| Missouri | Contested | No Missouri statute explicitly bans dual-currency sweepstakes casinos; operators rely on the "no purchase necessary" sweepstakes exemption (RSMo § 408.815) and argue free play removes "consideration" under the Ch. 572 gambling definition. A private suit, Killham v. Stake (Sweepstakes Limited), was filed October 27, 2025 in Jackson County Circuit Court. AG Hanaway's 2026 enforcement to date has targeted physical gray-market slot machines, not online sweepstakes casinos. | ||
| Nevada | Contested | Nevada has no statute naming dual-currency sweepstakes casinos specifically, but SB 256 (2025) raised penalties for unlicensed online gambling operators (civil disgorgement of profits; playing through an unlicensed operator upgraded from misdemeanor to gross misdemeanor with up to 1 year jail). Most national sweepstakes-casino operators (e.g., Ruby Sweeps, exiting Aug. 15, 2025) have voluntarily blocked Nevada. | ||
| New Mexico | Contested | No New Mexico statute, bill, or public AG/Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist action naming a specific sweepstakes-casino operator was identified, and New Mexico is not listed among the states that have enacted sweepstakes-casino bans. However, secondary sources conflict on the regulator's position: one industry tracker states the New Mexico Gaming Control Board (NMGCB) classifies sweepstakes platforms as illegal online gambling under NMSA § 30-19-2 (as of a May 2026 characterization), while not licensing, authorizing, or regulating them and recording no enforcement against individual players; another secondary source states flatly that New Mexico law does not address sweepstakes casinos and that the state has not challenged the model, with all major brands remaining active. Given this direct conflict about the regulator's own stated position (not merely a gap in coverage), marked contested rather than not_authorized. Neither source's underlying NMGCB notice or AG opinion was independently fetched and verified this pass. | ||
| Ohio | Contested | No explicit statutory ban on dual-currency sweepstakes casinos exists yet; HB 298 (2025) would have explicitly banned them as part of legalizing igaming but stalled. Legislators and the AG have discussed cease-and-desist/enforcement options against sweepstakes and "skill game" storefronts but a comprehensive ban has not passed as of Oct. 2026. | ||
| Oregon | Contested | Oregon has no statute that expressly names or bans dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos. Legality turns on the general criminal-gambling definition (ORS 167.117), which hinges on whether 'consideration' is required to play; a sweepstakes operator avoiding a finding of consideration generally relies on a genuine Alternative Method of Entry (AMOE). No AG opinion or court ruling addressing sweepstakes casinos specifically was identified. General sweepstakes-promotion disclosure rules (ORS 646A.803) still apply. | ||
| Pennsylvania | Contested | PGCB's chief enforcement counsel has called dual-currency sweepstakes casinos illegal online gambling and sent 18 cease-and-desist letters in 2025, but says the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act limits its enforcement power. HB 2801 (introduced Sept. 2026) would add an explicit statutory ban. | ||
| South Carolina | Contested | No South Carolina statute or AG opinion specifically addresses dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos, and no SC-specific cease-and-desist action has been identified as of October 2026 (unlike Tennessee, New York and Connecticut actions in 2025). A deputy state attorney general took the position in 2012 that electronic sweepstakes machines are illegal gambling because "players are paying for a chance to win money," but SC magistrates and trial courts have ruled inconsistently on in-store sweepstakes terminals, leaving the underlying legal theory contested and unresolved for online sweepstakes-casino platforms. | ||
| South Dakota | Contested | No South Dakota statute or AG action specifically addresses dual-currency sweepstakes casinos; the Deadwood Gaming Association has publicly opposed prediction-market platforms generally (see prediction_markets) but no parallel enforcement action against sweepstakes casinos specifically was found. Industry sources describe sweepstakes casinos as a commonly used "legal alternative" in states without regulated online casino gaming, which would include South Dakota, but this is an industry claim, not a regulator determination. | ||
| Texas | Contested | No Texas statute specifically names or bans dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos. Operators rely on the sweepstakes/no-purchase-necessary carve-out from the Penal Code 47.01 "bet" definition. As of late 2025/2026, the Legislature (not in session until 2027) had not taken it up, and no confirmed AG cease-and-desist letters against sweepstakes casino operators were found; coverage describes the state's posture as an unresolved gray zone with "little to no enforcement" to date, in contrast to AG enforcement history against storefront eight-liner and sweepstakes-parlor machines. | ||
| Virginia | Contested | No statutory ban exists; dual-currency sweepstakes casinos operate openly. SB579 (2026) originally proposed a ban with $10,000-$100,000 civil penalties but was amended to instead require a Lottery Board working-group study, due Dec. 1, 2026, ahead of a renewed 2027 ban push. | ||
| Washington | Contested | Secondary reporting indicates the Gambling Commission treats dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling, but the Commission's own FAQ page could not be independently fetched (404) to confirm the exact current position; treat as secondary source only pending direct verification. | ||
| Wisconsin | Contested | No Wisconsin statute or court ruling specifically addresses dual-currency sweepstakes casinos; industry marketing guides claim they operate legally in Wisconsin under promotional-sweepstakes principles distinct from the Wis. Stat. ch. 945 gambling definition, but this is an industry claim, not a regulator or court determination, and no AG enforcement action was found as of this research date. | ||
| California | Prohibited | AB 831, introduced by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia and co-sponsored by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, CNIGA, and TASIN, makes it unlawful to operate, conduct, offer, or promote an online sweepstakes game using a dual-currency model in California; liability extends to payment processors, geolocation providers, and media affiliates. Passed the Assembly 63-0 with no recorded opposition votes; signed by Gov. Newsom Oct. 11, 2025; effective Jan. 1, 2026. Several major operators (Ruby Sweeps, Vivaro, Carnival Citi, Dara Casino) exited California before the effective date. | ||
| Connecticut | Prohibited | SB 1235 bans sweepstakes/promotional games that use simulated gambling devices or let players participate in real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering, unless the operator holds the relevant state gaming license; passed the Senate 36-0 and the House 146-0, signed by Gov. Lamont, and took effect October 1, 2025, making Connecticut the second state (after Montana, per secondary reporting) to explicitly ban sweepstakes casinos. Operating an illegal gambling business is a Class D felony (up to 5 years, $5,000 fine). A narrow carve-out permits non-cash grocery-discount promotions at retailers with 5+ locations. Several sweepstakes operators (VGW, Stake) reportedly withdrew from Connecticut ahead of the ban. | ||
| Delaware | Prohibited | The Division of Gaming Enforcement has taken the position that dual-currency "sweepstakes casino" sites are illegal unlicensed online gaming under the Delaware Constitution, the Delaware Penal Code, and the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012. DGE issued a cease-and-desist order to VGW Luckyland, Inc. (Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Global Poker); per DGE's April 7, 2025 announcement, Delaware residents could no longer participate in those platforms effective April 2, 2025. VGW complied (while disagreeing with DGE's position) and exited the state; some reporting describes an earlier, lower-profile 2023 order that VGW did not fully comply with before the 2025 action. No statute names "sweepstakes casinos" specifically; the prohibition rests on regulator/AG-style enforcement under existing unlicensed-gambling law. | ||
| Hawaii | Prohibited | No dedicated sweepstakes statute; dual-currency real-money-redemption platforms would fall under the general gambling prohibition, which (unlike most states) has no charitable or promotional-game carve-out beyond narrow social gambling. | ||
| Indiana | Prohibited | Gov. Mike Braun signed HB 1052 on March 13, 2026 (House passed 87-11 Feb. 2; Senate 37-8 Feb. 18), banning online dual/multi-currency sweepstakes games that simulate casino, lottery, or sports-betting-style gaming. Explicitly exempts Hoosier Lottery promotions and peer-to-peer skill-based poker. IGC may impose civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation and issue cease-and-desist letters; criminal penalties were downgraded to civil in committee. Effective July 1, 2026. | ||
| Louisiana | Prohibited | Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed SB 181 (a dedicated sweepstakes-casino ban) in 2025, saying the conduct was already illegal under existing law. Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a formal opinion on July 2, 2025 concluding that online "sweepstakes" or "social" casino-style platforms violate Louisiana's gambling and gambling-by-computer statutes; the Gaming Control Board, working with the AG's office, sent cease-and-desist letters to roughly 40 offshore wagering and sweepstakes operators (including platforms behind Chumba Casino, Fliff, Funzpoints, and WOW Vegas brands). Most major sweepstakes brands (Chumba, Stake, LuckyLand, Modo, Global Poker) exited the Louisiana market by mid-2025 rather than contest the letters. In 2026 Landry signed two bills codifying the ban directly into statute, both effective August 1, 2026: HB 883 amends the computer-wagering statute to explicitly cover online/mobile dual-currency games, and HB 53 expands Louisiana's organized-crime/racketeering statute to reach gambling violations, exposing sweepstakes-casino operation to racketeering charges carrying up to 50 years at hard labor and fines up to $1 million. Separately, the Louisiana Department of Revenue sued VGW (Virtual Gaming Worlds) and MW Services Ltd. (WOW Vegas) in the 19th Judicial District Court for roughly $44 million combined in unpaid sales taxes, interest, and penalties on their prior Louisiana sweepstakes-coin sales; VGW began collecting sales tax on Gold Coin purchases in Louisiana starting around July 2026. | ||
| Maine | Prohibited | LD 2007 ("An Act Regarding the Prohibition of Online Sweepstakes Games"), introduced by Sen. Craig Hickman, passed the Legislature Mar. 26, 2026 and was signed by Gov. Mills on Mon., Apr. 6, 2026, making Maine the 2nd state (after Indiana) to ban dual-currency sweepstakes casinos by name in 2026. The law defines a prohibited "online sweepstakes game" (8 M.R.S. §1351(6)) as an internet-based dual-currency game simulating casino-style play (slots, poker, lottery-style games, bingo, sports wagering); violations draw civil fines of $10,000-$100,000 per violation to the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund, with mandatory license revocation/ineligibility for Maine Gambling Control Board licensees found in violation. Became effective July 29, 2026 per the Gambling Control Unit's own advisory (confirmed primary source; supersedes earlier secondary-source estimates of "early/mid-July"), now codified at 8 M.R.S. ch. 38. An estimated 50-60 sweepstakes operators were reportedly serving Maine players when the bill was signed. Companion bill LD 2080 separately bans credit-card funding for all online gambling in Maine. | ||
| Michigan | Prohibited | MGCB treats dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as unlicensed online lotteries/raffles rather than legal promotions. AG Nessel's office secured an assurance of discontinuance against Golden Hearts Games in September 2023. MGCB sent cease-and-desist letters to Stake.us, PredictionStrike and VGW LuckyLand in January 2024, and to "One Country" (OC Media Holdings LLC) in August 2024; unlicensed gambling under the Gaming Control and Revenue Act can carry imprisonment and/or a fine up to $100,000. As of mid-2026 no sweepstakes-casino platform is reported to operate legally in Michigan per secondary tracking (not independently verified against a formal MGCB order list). | ||
| Montana | Prohibited | SB 555 (signed May 23, 2025, effective Oct. 1, 2025) extends the internet-gambling felony ban to dual-currency sweepstakes-style platforms regardless of the word "sweepstakes" being used, while exempting platforms that allow no currency of any kind — widely reported as the first explicit state sweepstakes-casino ban. | ||
| New Jersey | Prohibited | Dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos (Chumba, LuckyLand, Pulsz, McLuck-style platforms) were banned effective Aug. 15, 2025, when Gov. Murphy allowed A-5447 to become law without signature under the 45-day rule. Penalties are $100,000 for a first offense and $250,000 for subsequent offenses, per day. A narrow carve-out remains for genuinely free-to-play promotions with no purchase requirement and prizes capped at $20 in merchandise/food, which covers conventional "social casino" apps. | ||
| New York | Prohibited | Confirmed via the NY Senate's own bill page: S5935 (Sen. Addabbo) was delivered to the Governor Dec. 1, 2025 and signed Dec. 5, 2025 as Chapter 605 of the Laws of 2025, taking effect immediately. It adds a new §912 to the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law defining an "online sweepstakes game" (dual-currency system simulating casino-style gaming, incl. slots, table games, lottery games, bingo, sports wagering) and barring operators, licensees, financial institutions, payment processors, geolocation providers, gaming content suppliers, platform providers, and media affiliates from operating, conducting, promoting, or supporting such games in New York. Penalties of $10,000-$100,000 per violation go to the Commercial Gaming Revenue Fund; enforced by the Gaming Commission, State Police, and AG. Before this, Penal Law §225.00's general "gambling"/"something of value" definitions were the basis most operators (Chumba, LuckyLand, Pulsz) cited for geofencing New York. | ||
| North Carolina | Prohibited | G.S. 14-306.4 broadly bans operating an electronic machine or device to conduct or promote a sweepstakes through an "entertaining display" (video poker, bingo, simulated slot-style games, etc.); upheld by the N.C. Supreme Court in Dec. 2012. The statute predates dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos and was written against brick-and-mortar sweepstakes parlors; whether/how it is being enforced against online sweepstakes-casino operators in 2025-2026 could not be confirmed before the search budget was exhausted. | ||
| Tennessee | Prohibited | Law signed by Gov. Lee 5/22/2026, effective immediately upon signing ("This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it"). Bans promotional platforms using a "virtual currency, dual-currency, or multi-currency system" to let users play online slots/casino-style games for cash-equivalent prizes; treats continued operation as an unfair/deceptive practice under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, with civil penalties up to $15,000/violation plus consumer damages and a Class B misdemeanor criminal penalty. Followed AG cease-and-desist letters that reportedly led ~39 platforms to already restrict Tennessee access before the bill passed. | ||
| Utah | Prohibited | Utah has no stand-alone "sweepstakes casino ban" act; dual-currency sweepstakes casinos are captured by the existing "fringe gambling," "fringe gaming device," and "sweepstakes" definitions, reinforced by 2019's HB 23 (fringe-gambling loophole closure) and the 2025 recodification's anti-circumvention language. The §76-9-1412 civil cause of action (2x economic-loss damages) triggered dozens of federal class-action suits against sweepstakes operators in late 2025. | ||
| West Virginia | Prohibited | No standalone WV statute names "sweepstakes casinos," but Attorney General JB McCuskey's office has treated dual-currency sweepstakes platforms as illegal unlicensed gambling and pursued active enforcement rather than issuing a single named ban. Starting around January 2025, McCuskey sent (per his own later public remarks) almost 50 subpoenas to sweepstakes operators over the following months; by July 2025, more than 20 platforms had stopped offering sweepstakes gaming in West Virginia in response, with no operator having substantively responded to a subpoena by that point. State law bars the AG from publicizing subpoenas before an operator responds, so the identities of most targeted operators are not public. | ||
| Wyoming | Prohibited | No dedicated sweepstakes statute exists yet, but the Gaming Commission's May 22, 2025 public warning states that real-money "sweepstakes" and "social casino" sites are unlicensed and "operating illegally in Wyoming." A 2026 interim committee reviewed two competing 2027 draft bills — one that would explicitly ban sweepstakes-style online casino games, another that would instead regulate/license them — without a committee vote as of October 2026. | ||
| Alabama | Not authorized | No Alabama-specific sweepstakes-casino statute, regulation, or AG enforcement action against sweepstakes operators was identified in this review. General gambling prohibition (Title 13A-12) and the state's aggressive posture toward electronic bingo and DFS suggest sweepstakes casinos offering cash-redeemable prizes would be treated as unlawful gambling, but no sweepstakes-specific source was found; treat with caution pending further research. | ||
| Alaska | Not authorized | CORRECTED from "limited" to "not_authorized" per the Choosing-a-Status rule: Alaska has no statute that affirmatively authorizes the dual-currency sweepstakes model, so "limited" (which implies some form of authorization) was incorrect. Dual-currency sweepstakes-casino platforms operate in Alaska on the theory that they are promotional sweepstakes (a free-entry path to redeemable "sweeps coins") rather than gambling under §11.66.280's consideration-based "gambling" definition; multiple secondary trackers claim no Alaska statute prohibits the model, but no primary state confirmation (AG opinion, regulation, or court ruling) was found either way. | ||
| District of Columbia | Not authorized | No enacted DC statute or OLG/AG enforcement action against dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos was found; they appear to operate in the gray market under D.C. Code § 22-1704's general gambling-device prohibition without targeted enforcement. Councilmember Wendell Felder introduced the Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026 (CB 26-0656) in 2026, which would legalize real-money online casinos while explicitly banning the dual-currency (Gold Coin/Sweeps Coin) model, with civil fines up to $100,000 per violation ($500,000 for repeat violations); as of this file's as_of date the bill had not passed. | ||
| Idaho | Not authorized | No dedicated sweepstakes statute; the state relies on the general gambling ban and constitutional casino-style-game bar. Secondary trackers report sweepstakes operators cannot offer cash-redeemable prizes to Idaho residents, leaving only no-cash "gold coin" play. Secondary source only for the operational detail. | ||
| Kansas | Not authorized | Corrected on audit (2026-10-10): was recorded as `operational` solely because no Kansas-specific sweepstakes-casino ban or regulatory bill was found; per audit rule, the absence of a ban is not itself authorization. Kansas has no statute or KRGC rule specifically authorizing or licensing sweepstakes-casino (dual-currency) platforms, so the activity is `not_authorized` rather than `operational`, notwithstanding that sweeps operators appear to continue serving Kansas customers in a gray market without enforcement. Multiple industry-tracker roundups of the 2026 state sweepstakes-ban wave list California, Indiana, Maine, New York, Louisiana, and Tennessee as having acted, but do not list Kansas. Sourcing remains secondary/commercial-site only; not independently confirmed against a KRGC or AG primary source despite a repeat search this session. | ||
| Minnesota | Not authorized | 2026 legislation that would have banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos did not advance, so sweepstakes casinos remain unregulated by a specific statute; however, they would likely fall under the general gambling-device/gambling prohibitions in Minn. Stat. § 609.75 absent a sweepstakes-specific exemption, and no court or AG opinion confirming their legality was found as of this research date. | ||
| Nebraska | Not authorized | No Nebraska sweepstakes-casino ban, enabling statute, or AG cease-and-desist action was identified; 2026 industry roundups of state sweepstakes-ban activity do not list Nebraska among enacting or actively considering states, and a further search of the Nebraska Attorney General's site found only decades-old riverboat/casino opinions, nothing addressing dual-currency sweepstakes platforms. Treated as not_authorized: gray-market presence under the general gambling statute, without a specific authorization or ban, per the research guide. | ||
| New Hampshire | Not authorized | Not specifically addressed by name, but RSA 647:2's gambling definition expressly includes sweepstakes tickets tied to a purchase as "something of value," and no RSA 647:2(V) exception covers dual-currency sweepstakes casinos; general prohibition would apply absent a specific carve-out. No NH AG opinion, enforcement action, or courts-tested position on sweepstakes casinos specifically was found this session, and (unlike Indiana or Maine's 2026 LD 2007) no bill naming sweepstakes casinos has been identified in New Hampshire; this status rests on the general statute rather than a sweepstakes-specific determination and could change if the AG or Lottery Commission acts. | ||
| North Dakota | Not authorized | No North Dakota statute names or bans dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos; legality would turn on the general gambling definition in N.D.C.C. § 12.1-28-01, which has not been applied to these platforms by the AG's Gaming Division as of this research. No ND-specific ban bill or cease-and-desist action against a named sweepstakes brand (Chumba, Pulsz, High 5, McLuck, etc.) was identified, unlike the 2025-2026 bans/C&Ds seen in several other states; secondary industry/affiliate sources describe these sites as available to North Dakota users without state licensing or audit. Treated as not_authorized (gray-market presence without enforcement), per the research guide, rather than operational. | ||
| Oklahoma | Not authorized | Not yet in force: SB 1589's ban takes effect 2026-11-01; switch to prohibited then. Senate Bill 1589 bans online sweepstakes casino games that use dual-currency models to risk "representatives of value," extending liability beyond operators to any "geolocation provider, gaming supplier, platform provider, promoter, or media affiliate." Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed the bill on May 7, 2026, calling it "vague and overbroad" and saying it "creates uncertainty for businesses operating in good faith," but the Legislature overrode the veto on May 14-15, 2026 (House 68-19, Senate 34-10). Violations are a felony (sources describe it variously as Class C or Class C2, with fines of $500-$2,000 and up to 30 days' jail reported for related provisions). The ban takes effect November 1, 2026. | ||
| Rhode Island | Not authorized | A targeted search for a Rhode Island sweepstakes-casino ban (comparable to Connecticut's SB 1235) found no RI-specific statute, bill, or AG/Lottery Division enforcement action; Rhode Island is not named among the 2026 roundups of enacting or actively-considering states (Indiana, Maryland, Maine, DC, California, New York, Louisiana, Tennessee). Treated as not_authorized: unaddressed gray-market presence, per the research guide, rather than operational. | ||
| Vermont | Not authorized | No sweepstakes-casino-specific statute or enforcement action identified. 13 V.S.A. §2143b generally permits sweepstakes/contests of chance provided entrants are not required to risk money or other valuables; whether dual-currency sweepstakes casinos (which sell "gold coins" redeemable alongside free "sweeps coins") fit this exception has not been tested by a Vermont court or the AG. Unlike Indiana or Maine (LD 2007, signed Apr. 2026), no Vermont bill naming sweepstakes casinos was identified. Treated as not_authorized: unaddressed gray-market presence per the research guide, rather than operational or contested, since no conflicting official Vermont position was identified (only an untested statutory exception). |