Sweepstakes casino legal news
State bans, pending bills, regulator crackdowns, lawsuits and operator exits: every development that changes where US sweepstakes casinos can operate, with links to the primary sources.
- IndustryAnnounced
Sweepstakes brands pull out of Oklahoma ahead of Nov. 1 ban
With SB 1589 taking effect Nov. 1, Stake.us, Modo, the company behind McLuck and several other operators have set Oklahoma cutoff dates or switched off Sweeps Coins play in the state.
Oklahoma - LegislationPending
Wyoming lawmakers weigh felony ban on online sweepstakes casinos for 2027
Wyoming's Select Committee on Gaming took up a draft bill that would treat running an online sweepstakes casino as felony professional gambling, setting up a debate in the 2027 session.
Wyoming - LegislationPending
Pennsylvania's HB 2801 would ban sweepstakes casinos, with fines up to $500,000
A bipartisan group of Pennsylvania House members filed HB 2801, a broad gaming bill that would outlaw dual-currency sweepstakes casinos; it was referred to the House Gaming Oversight Committee on Sept. 24.
Pennsylvania - EnforcementAnnounced
Florida AG tells Google, Meta, TikTok, Snap and Reddit to stop sweepstakes casino ads
Attorney General James Uthmeier told five tech platforms that ads for Stake and VGW's sweepstakes brands are unlawful in Florida and gave them until Oct. 23 to explain in writing how they will keep such ads away from residents.
Florida - EnforcementSettled
VGW pays New York $8 million to settle AG's sweepstakes casino probe
Chumba Casino operator VGW agreed to pay New York $8 million and to honor certain old Sweeps Coins redemption requests for a year, resolving the attorney general's investigation into its sweepstakes sites.
New York - LitigationSettled
Pulsz operator settles six-state class action for an estimated $14 million
Yellow Social Interactive, which runs Pulsz and Pulsz Bingo, won preliminary approval of a class settlement that returns part of eligible players' net purchases in Gold Coins or cash; a fairness hearing is set for Dec. 31.
Alabama, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee - LitigationLawsuit filed
Florida AG sues Stake, VGW and payment firms over sweepstakes casinos
Attorney General James Uthmeier filed two lawsuits in Hillsborough County alleging that Stake.us and VGW's sweepstakes sites are illegal gambling, naming payment processors and Stake's co-founders as defendants.
Florida - LegislationIn effect
Louisiana's dual-currency ban and racketeering law take effect Aug. 1
Two 2026 Louisiana laws now treat dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling by computer and add gambling crimes to the state's racketeering statute, with new duties for payment processors and platform providers.
Louisiana - LegislationIn effect
Maine's online sweepstakes ban takes effect as regulator warns players
LD 2007, signed by Gov. Janet Mills in April, is now in force, making it unlawful gambling to operate or promote dual-currency sweepstakes games in Maine, with fines of $10,000 to $100,000.
Maine - LegislationIn effect
Indiana's HB 1052 sweepstakes ban takes effect, prompting a wave of exits
Indiana's ban on dual-currency sweepstakes casinos took effect July 1, letting the Indiana Gaming Commission fine operators up to $100,000; many brands left the state or dropped Sweeps Coins.
Indiana - LitigationLawsuit filed
Federal judge in Minnesota refuses to send Stake.us gambling-loss suit to arbitration
A federal court in Minnesota denied the Stake.us operator's motion to compel arbitration in a proposed class action, finding its terms may be void under state gambling law; the ruling is on appeal to the Eighth Circuit.
Minnesota - LitigationLawsuit filed
Kentucky attorney general sues VGW, calling Chumba and LuckyLand illegal gambling
Attorney General Russell Coleman sued VGW in Franklin Circuit Court, alleging its Chumba Casino, Global Poker and LuckyLand Slots sites are unlicensed gambling, alongside separate suits against prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket.
Kentucky - LegislationIn effect
Tennessee enacts sweepstakes casino ban as Gov. Lee signs SB 2136
Gov. Bill Lee signed SB 2136, which took effect immediately and makes operating or promoting a dual-currency sweepstakes casino a violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act enforced by the attorney general.
Tennessee - LegislationFailed
Minnesota sweepstakes ban dies in the House after clearing the Senate
SF 4474, which would have banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos and reached payment processors and suppliers, passed the Minnesota Senate but died when the regular session ended May 18 without House action.
Minnesota - LegislationIn effect
Iowa law gives gaming regulators cease-and-desist power over illegal sweepstakes
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed SF 2289, letting the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission issue cease-and-desist orders and seek injunctions against unlicensed gambling, including illegal sweepstakes, without creating an explicit dual-currency ban.
Iowa - LegislationSigned into law
Oklahoma lawmakers override Stitt's veto, enacting SB 1589 sweepstakes casino ban
The Oklahoma House completed a veto override of SB 1589, making it a felony to operate dual-currency sweepstakes casinos starting Nov. 1, 2026, with an exemption for tribal gaming under federal law.
Oklahoma - LegislationFailed
Maryland sweepstakes ban bills pass the House but die in Senate committee
HB 295 and HB 1226, which would have banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos and given the attorney general new enforcement tools, cleared the House of Delegates but never reached a Senate vote before the session ended.
Maryland - LitigationLawsuit filed
Baltimore sues six sweepstakes casino operators under consumer protection law
The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore sued the operators of Chumba Casino, Stake.us, McLuck, Pulsz, High 5 Casino and Fortune Coins, alleging their dual-currency platforms are illegal gambling marketed deceptively to residents, including minors.
Maryland - EnforcementAnnounced
Illinois Gaming Board sends 65 cease-and-desist letters to sweepstakes operators
Working with Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the Illinois Gaming Board ordered 65 online casino and sweepstakes operators to block Illinois residents or stop offering prizes, warning of civil or criminal penalties.
Illinois - LegislationIn effect
California's AB 831 sweepstakes casino ban takes effect
AB 831, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2025, now makes it a misdemeanor to operate or knowingly support dual-currency sweepstakes casinos in California, with liability extending to payment processors and other vendors.
California - EnforcementAnnounced
Tennessee AG orders nearly 40 sweepstakes casinos to stop serving the state
Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced cease-and-desist letters to almost 40 online sweepstakes casinos, arguing the dual-currency model is an illegal lottery under the Tennessee Constitution.
Tennessee - LegislationIn effect
Hochul signs New York ban on online sweepstakes casinos, effective immediately
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed S5935-A, adding a prohibition on online sweepstakes games to New York's racing and gaming law, with fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation.
New York - IndustryAnnounced
Pragmatic Play stops supplying games to US sweepstakes casinos
One of the most widely used slot studios on sweepstakes sites said it would stop licensing its games to US sweepstakes operators, citing regulatory changes after the Los Angeles City Attorney sued Stake.us and named game suppliers.
Nationwide - LegislationIn effect
New Jersey bans sweepstakes casinos as Gov. Murphy signs A5447
Gov. Phil Murphy signed A5447, banning dual-currency sweepstakes casinos that mimic casino games or sports betting, with fines of $100,000 for a first offense and $250,000 for each later one.
New Jersey