Which states ban sweepstakes casinos?

Which states ban sweepstakes casinos right now?

As of November 1, 2026, ten states have laws in force that ban online dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, the sites where you buy Gold Coins and receive Sweeps Coins you can redeem for prizes. The timeline below runs from the first ban to the newest. Where a date comes from a tracker or trade report rather than the statute itself, it's marked third-party.

Our sweepstakes casino bans tracker updates as new laws pass, and the are sweepstakes casinos legal answer explains the legal theory behind the model. More short answers sit in our questions hub.

The 2025 sweepstakes bans: New Jersey, Connecticut, Montana and New York

New Jersey

New Jersey moved first. P.L. 2025, c.128 (opens in a new tab) treats pay-to-play and dual-currency sweepstakes as unlawful gambling, effective August 15, 2025. The Division of Consumer Affairs can impose civil penalties of up to $100,000 for a first offense and $250,000 for later ones, with each day counted separately. More on New Jersey sweepstakes casinos.

Connecticut and Montana

Connecticut's ban came through SB 1235, which became Public Act 25-112 (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2025 according to third-party trackers. Montana's SB 555 took effect the same day and, per a tracker, adds felony penalties; the state's Gambling Control Division says in its sweepstakes FAQ (opens in a new tab) that paying to enter turns a sweepstakes into gambling. See Connecticut sweepstakes casinos and Montana sweepstakes casinos.

New York

New York's S5935-A bans operating, promoting or profiting from online dual-currency casino-style games with cash or cash-equivalent prizes, with fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation enforced by the State Gaming Commission and Attorney General. Third-party reports give December 5, 2025 as the signing and effective date. A follow-up bill, S10092, passed the Senate on June 1, 2026 but hasn't been enacted. Details are on our New York sweepstakes casinos page.

The 2026 wave: California to Oklahoma

California and Tennessee

California's AB 831, signed October 11, 2025 after a 79–0 Assembly vote, took effect January 1, 2026. It makes it illegal to knowingly engage in, promote or facilitate dual-currency sweepstakes casinos and reaches payment processors, geolocation providers and affiliates. Tennessee's SB 2136 took effect on signing, May 22, 2026, with enforcement by the Attorney General under the state's 1977 Consumer Protection Act. See California and Tennessee.

Indiana and Maine

Indiana's HEA 1052 (opens in a new tab) adds a section to the state code banning online dual- or multi-currency games that simulate casino, lottery or sports wagering, effective July 1, 2026, with a $100,000 civil penalty. Maine's LD 2007 passed on April 6, 2026; sources give the effective date as July 14 or July 29, so we say July 2026. Its Gambling Control Unit release (opens in a new tab) covers the fines, which run from $10,000 to $100,000. More on Indiana and Maine.

Louisiana and Oklahoma

Louisiana's legislature passed a ban in 2025 that the governor vetoed. A new law, Act 182 of 2026 (HB 883) (opens in a new tab), was signed May 15, 2026 and took effect August 1, 2026. It classes dual-currency casino-style games as illegal gambling by computer, raises the maximum fine to $100,000 with up to five years, bars payment processors and platform providers from facilitating the games and requires the Attorney General to keep a public list of cease-and-desist notices.

Oklahoma's SB 1589 was vetoed on May 11, 2026, the veto was overridden three days later, and the law took effect November 1, 2026. It bans online casino games as well as dual-currency sweepstakes, and a bill summary reports liability for owners, employees, geolocation providers, platform providers, promoters and media affiliates. See Louisiana and Oklahoma.

States that block sweepstakes casinos without a ban

A state can be off-limits without a sweepstakes statute. These states rely on existing gambling law or new regulator powers instead.

• Michigan: no dedicated law, but the Gaming Control Board treats sweepstakes casinos as illegal gaming and sent cease-and-desist letters to Stake.us (November 2, 2023) and VGW's LuckyLand (December 5, 2023). See Michigan sweepstakes casinos.
• Mississippi: the Gaming Commission says there are no legal exceptions for so-called sweepstakes casinos.
• Delaware: the Division of Gaming Enforcement ordered VGW's LuckyLand to stop, effective April 2, 2025.
• Minnesota: the Attorney General says selling Sweeps Coins for games of chance with real prizes makes the sites illegal gambling.
• Idaho and Washington: third parties report the model is blocked under existing law, including Washington's RCW 9.46.240.
• Iowa: SF 2289 (2026) gives the Racing and Gaming Commission cease-and-desist power over illegal sweepstakes; trackers class it as enforcement, not a ban.
• Illinois: regulators sent more than 60 cease-and-desist letters in February 2026, but no ban statute has passed.

Nevada is contested. One trade outlet says its 2025 law, SB 256, raised penalties for unlicensed operators without explicitly banning sweepstakes, while another reported that the governor signed a ban. We list it as unresolved.

States with pending or failed sweepstakes ban bills

Many more states have debated bans. These are the bills on record; none had become law by the date of this page.

Statuses come mostly from third-party trackers. If you live in one of these states, check Pennsylvania, Ohio or Texas for updates.

Brand excluded-state lists go further than the law

Sweepstakes brands write their own restricted-state lists, and those lists are usually longer than the set of banned states. They also change often, so the version date matters.

Some brands acted on Oklahoma early: High 5's rules say Oklahoma access ended October 29, 2026, and McLuck's terms say it would stop operating there on November 1, 2026. Read the full brand pages for Stake.us, High 5 Casino and McLuck.

How to check whether your state bans sweepstakes casinos

1. Look up your state in the ban timeline above and note the effective date.
2. If it isn't listed, check the regulator list for enforcement without a ban.
3. Open the brand's current sweepstakes rules and find its excluded-state list and version date.
4. Search for recent cease-and-desist letters naming the brand in your state.
5. If your state is acting, redeem eligible Sweeps Coins before any deadline the brand sets.

Offshore casino offers via our links, and why they're different

We don't partner with any sweepstakes casino, so no offer here fits the sweepstakes model. Decode, Silver Oak and Planet 7 are offshore real-money casinos that no US state licenses or regulates, and a sweepstakes ban in your state doesn't make offshore play lawful. Check your state's law first; Decode is reported by third parties to refuse Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington, and Michigan named Silver Oak and Planet 7 in an April 9, 2025 cease-and-desist release. We earn commission from these links, and partners appear in a commercial order. Offers are for 21+ (18+ where allowed), and terms apply.

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These are slot bonuses; table games are often excluded or weighted lower. Gambling costs money, and if it's causing harm, the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) is free and confidential.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).