Sweepstakes casinos in Delaware sit in a gray zone that the state has leaned hard against. No statute bans them by name, but Delaware’s Division of Gaming Enforcement ordered VGW’s LuckyLand to stop as of April 2, 2025, saying coin games were being dressed up as promotional sweepstakes. Most big sweeps brands now list Delaware as excluded.
Delaware has no sweepstakes ban statute, but the state treats cash-prize casino-style coin games as unlicensed gambling.
A cease-and-desist to VGW’s LuckyLand took effect April 2, 2025; one third-party source dates a VGW exit to 2023.
Chumba, LuckyLand, Stake.us, McLuck, High 5, Modo, Zula, Sportzino and others list Delaware as restricted.
Delaware’s only authorized online casinos are run by the Delaware Lottery, at age 21.
None of our partners is a sweepstakes casino; the offers shown are offshore real-money casinos.
Sweepstakes ban statute
None recorded
Key enforcement
DGE cease-and-desist to VGW LuckyLand, effective April 2, 2025
Enforcement agency
Division of Gaming Enforcement
Authorized online casinos
Delaware Lottery (BetRivers platform)
Minimum casino age
21
State helpline
1-888-850-8888
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Delaware?
Delaware hasn’t passed a law that bans sweepstakes casinos by name, unlike New York, New Jersey or California. That doesn’t make them welcome. The state’s position, set out in an April 2025 Delaware news release (opens in a new tab), is that real-money games run by unlicensed entities violate the Delaware Constitution, the Delaware Penal Code and the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012.
The release went further for sweepstakes specifically. Officials said VGW, the company behind LuckyLand Slots and Chumba Casino, misrepresented casino-style coin games as promotional sweepstakes, and the Division of Gaming Enforcement (opens in a new tab) issued a cease-and-desist effective April 2, 2025. Our online casinos in Delaware hub and the Delaware gambling laws page put this in the context of the state’s wider rules.
Sources disagree on timing. The state release dates the LuckyLand order to April 2025. A third-party legal guide says a Delaware cease-and-desist led VGW to leave the state in 2023. Both are shown here; the 2025 date comes from the official release.
How sweepstakes casinos work, and why Delaware objects
Sweepstakes casinos run on two currencies. Gold Coins are for entertainment play and can’t be cashed out. Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes. Operators present the whole setup as a promotional sweepstakes rather than gambling, which is how these sites have operated in states without real-money licenses.
Delaware’s answer is that the label doesn’t decide the question. If a player can stake something and win cash on a slot-style game, the state looks at it as real-money gaming, and only Delaware’s authorized casinos may offer that. For the national legal theory, see our sweepstakes casino laws guide.
Sweepstakes vs Delaware-authorized vs offshore casinos
Feature
Sweepstakes casino
Delaware Lottery casino
Offshore real-money casino
Currency
Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins
US dollars
US dollars or crypto
Cash prizes
Via Sweeps Coin redemption
Yes
Yes
Delaware authorization
None; LuckyLand ordered out
Yes
None
Delaware agency to complain to
No
Yes
No
Typical age rule
Set by operator
21
Set by operator
Which sweepstakes casinos exclude Delaware
Most major sweeps brands now block Delaware themselves. The list below shows each brand’s published or reported exclusion and when it was dated. Brands change their lists often, so check the current rules page before you register anywhere.
Sweeps brands that don’t list Delaware, and why that isn’t a green light
A few brands don’t name Delaware on the exclusion lists available. A third-party list for Pulsz leaves Delaware off, as does a third-party list for Crown Coins. WOW Vegas’s own help page names states where registration or Sweeps Coin play isn’t allowed, and Delaware isn’t among them. The list for Fortune Coins is incomplete, naming only four states.
Being absent from a list isn’t permission. Delaware’s stated view applies to any unlicensed operator offering cash-prize casino-style games, and the state didn’t need a new statute to act against LuckyLand. If a brand still lets Delaware residents redeem Sweeps Coins, its position in the state is untested at best.
Sweepstakes casino bans in other states
Delaware is acting through enforcement while other states have written bans into law. The trend has moved fast since mid-2025, and it explains why so many brands now publish long exclusion lists. Our sweepstakes casino bans tracker keeps the full record.
Recorded state sweepstakes casino bans
State
Law
Effective
New Jersey
A5447
August 15, 2025
Connecticut
2025 law
October 1, 2025
Montana
2025 law
October 1, 2025
New York
S5935-A
December 5, 2025
California
AB 831
January 1, 2026
Tennessee
2026 law
May 22, 2026
Indiana
HEA 1052
July 1, 2026
Maine
LD 2007
July 2026
Louisiana
Act 182
August 1, 2026
Oklahoma
SB 1589
November 1, 2026
New York’s law, described in the NY Senate’s announcement (opens in a new tab), sets fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation. Oklahoma’s ban, which took effect November 1, 2026, also covers online casino games, with reported liability for promoters and affiliates. Maine’s effective date appears as July 14 or July 29 depending on the source.
How to check a sweepstakes site before playing from Delaware
Look for Delaware on the brand’s sweepstakes rules or terms of service, using the most recent version and its date.
Check whether Delaware is barred from registering, from Sweeps Coin play or from redemptions; brands split these differently.
Read Delaware’s April 2025 release so you know the state’s position on cash-prize coin games.
Compare the site with the Delaware Lottery’s list of authorized casino brands; a sweeps site won’t be on it.
If you go ahead anyway, never use false location details or anyone else’s account; redemptions can be refused and balances voided.
The authorized alternative: Delaware’s Lottery-run online casinos
Delaware residents who want casino games with cash prizes and state oversight have a legal option at home. The Delaware Lottery runs online play for Delaware Park, Bally’s Dover and Harrington on a single BetRivers platform, open to players 21 and over. Players in Wilmington, Dover and Newark can verify any site against the Lottery’s list. The Delaware real money casinos page explains deposits, withdrawals and protections there.
Sweepstakes prizes and taxes
Cash prizes are income for federal tax purposes. The IRS W-2G instructions (opens in a new tab) list sweepstakes, lotteries and pools as reportable when winnings reach the $2,000 threshold for 2026 payments and are at least 300 times the wager, with 24% withholding where winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000. How a given Sweeps Coin redemption is classified isn’t settled in the sources here, so keep records and ask a tax professional. See our W-2G form page.
Help if sweepstakes play is getting out of hand
Any money spent on coin packages is real money, even when the coins feel like tokens. If purchases are creeping up, the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems (opens in a new tab) runs a helpline at 1-888-850-8888. The national helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), by call or text. Blocking apps such as Gamban can cover sweeps sites too; see blocking software.
Offers shown on this page: not sweepstakes casinos
None of our seven partners runs a sweepstakes casino, so no partner fits this topic exactly. The two offers below are offshore real-money casinos with slot-heavy lobbies, shown as the closest match. Neither is licensed by Delaware or any US state, and Delaware says real-money games from unlicensed operators violate state law; check your state’s law first. At an offshore site there is no state regulator to complain to and no state protection of balances, and the casino sets the terms. We earn a commission from our links, and partner order is commercial.
Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report a 275% match with code MAD275, a $30 minimum deposit and 30x (deposit + bonus) wagering on slots with no max cashout; reviewers disagree on whether the match is capped at $2,750 or unlimited. The Michigan Gaming Control Board named Slot Madness in an August 14, 2025 order. See our Slot Madness review.
SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino’s terms list 25x (deposit + bonus) wagering, a $20 minimum per bonus and no max cashout, with a $5,000 weekly withdrawal cap; its own site advertises a different five-deposit package, so the terms at sign-up apply. Michigan named SlotoCash in its October 8, 2026 cease-and-desist letters. Read our SlotoCash review.
Bonuses at both are for slots, with table games often excluded or weighted lower. The house edge means losses are the likely result over time.
Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure
No partner of ours runs a sweepstakes casino. These are offshore real-money casinos, not licensed in Delaware, shown with the legal caveats below.
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 275% match up to $2,750 with code MAD275; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and keno (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Anjouan, Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: None (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
SlotoCash Casino#1 on our listBiggest bonus on our list
Published terms (casino terms): SlotoCash advertises up to $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits on its own site. Eligible games: Slots, keno and scratch cards (progressive jackpots excluded).
Who runs it: License not shown on its site; reported as a Deckmedia N.V. brand (Curaçao). Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, October 8, 2026.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $20 per bonus. Wagering 25x deposit + bonus. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap $5,000 / week. Terms source: casino terms. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews; the terms shown at sign-up apply.
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).
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to play sweepstakes casinos from Delaware?
No Delaware law authorizes them, though there’s no statute that bans them by name, but the state treats cash-prize casino-style coin games from unlicensed operators as illegal gaming. Its Division of Gaming Enforcement ordered VGW’s LuckyLand to stop as of April 2, 2025, saying coin games were misrepresented as promotional sweepstakes. Most major brands now exclude Delaware. Delaware’s only authorized online casinos are run by the Lottery. See are sweepstakes casinos legal for the national picture.
Can I play Chumba Casino in Delaware?
Chumba’s own Sweeps Rules, version 18.0 dated August 28, 2025, list Delaware among excluded states, and its sister brand LuckyLand was the target of Delaware’s 2025 cease-and-desist. A third-party source also says a Delaware order led VGW to exit the state in 2023. Either way, Delaware residents shouldn’t expect to play for Sweeps Coins there. Our is Chumba legal answer covers other states.
Is Stake.us available in Delaware?
No. Stake.us lists Delaware on its help center’s restricted-states page, alongside more than 20 other states. The page isn’t dated, so check it again before relying on it. Delaware’s wider position is that unlicensed operators can’t offer cash-prize casino-style games there, whether they call themselves sweepstakes or not. For the brand’s legal standing elsewhere, see is Stake.us legal.
What happened with LuckyLand Slots in Delaware?
Delaware’s Division of Gaming Enforcement issued a cease-and-desist to VGW over LuckyLand Slots, effective April 2, 2025, according to a state news release dated April 7, 2025. Officials said VGW misrepresented casino-style coin games as promotional sweepstakes. LuckyLand now appears on reported restricted lists for Delaware. A third-party guide gives 2023 as the year VGW left after a Delaware order. See our LuckyLand Slots review.
Which states ban sweepstakes casinos, and is Delaware one of them?
Delaware isn’t on the list of states with a ban statute. Recorded bans include New Jersey (August 15, 2025), Connecticut and Montana (October 1, 2025), New York (December 5, 2025), California (January 1, 2026), Tennessee (May 22, 2026), Indiana (July 1, 2026), Maine (July 2026), Louisiana (August 1, 2026) and Oklahoma (November 1, 2026). Delaware hasn’t passed a ban statute but has used enforcement instead. The which states ban sweepstakes casinos page keeps the list current.
Are Sweeps Coins real money?
Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes, which is why regulators look at them closely. Gold Coins are for entertainment play and can’t be cashed out. Delaware’s view is that if casino-style play can end in a cash prize from an unlicensed operator, it’s real-money gaming. Redemptions are also taxable income. Our what are sweeps coins answer explains the mechanics in plain terms.
Do sweepstakes casinos pay out to Delaware players?
Brands that list Delaware as excluded won’t allow Sweeps Coin redemptions from the state, and many void balances when rules are broken. A few brands don’t name Delaware on the lists available, but that doesn’t mean the state accepts them. Using false location details to redeem breaks the brand’s rules and can cost you the balance. Compare your options on the Delaware real money casinos page instead.
Are there legal alternatives to sweepstakes casinos in Delaware?
Yes. Delaware is one of the few states with authorized real-money online casinos. The Delaware Lottery runs them for Delaware Park, Bally’s Dover and Harrington on a BetRivers-powered platform, for players 21 and over, with a Delaware agency behind them. Sports betting is also legal through the Delaware Sports Lottery. See Delaware online slots for the game side of the authorized option.
Is McLuck available in Delaware?
No, McLuck lists Delaware as excluded. Its Terms of Service, version 2.6 dated October 14, 2026, name Delaware among the states where it doesn’t offer its sweepstakes play. That matches the wider pattern: Chumba, LuckyLand, Stake.us, High 5, Modo, Zula and Sportzino list Delaware too. Rules change, so check the current terms before registering. Delaware’s position is that cash-prize casino-style coin games from unlicensed operators are real-money gaming. Our McLuck review and sweepstakes casino laws guide have more.
Can I play High 5 Casino in Delaware?
No, High 5 Casino’s own rules exclude Delaware. Its Sweepstakes Rules, version 44.0 dated October 14, 2026, list Delaware as a restricted state. Brands often split restrictions between registration, Sweeps Coin play and redemptions, so read the current rules for the detail. Even where a brand doesn’t list Delaware, the state’s 2025 action against VGW shows it treats cash-prize coin games from unlicensed operators as illegal gaming. See our High 5 Casino review and Delaware gambling laws.
Is Pulsz legal in Delaware?
No Delaware law authorizes Pulsz, even though a third-party list of its restricted states leaves Delaware off. Being missing from a list isn’t permission. Delaware acted against LuckyLand without a new statute, saying VGW misrepresented casino-style coin games as promotional sweepstakes, and the same reasoning would apply to any unlicensed operator offering cash prizes. If a brand still lets Delaware residents redeem Sweeps Coins, its position in the state is untested. Check our Pulsz review and are sweepstakes casinos legal.
Does RealPrize accept Delaware players?
RealPrize’s own documents conflict, so treat Delaware as excluded. Its play page lists Delaware among restricted states, while its Terms version 2.5, dated July 28, 2026, omit it. When a brand’s pages disagree, the stricter list is the safer guide, and redemptions can be refused if you break a rule. Delaware’s wider stance is that cash-prize coin games from unlicensed operators are real-money gaming. Our RealPrize review covers the brand, and sweepstakes casino bans tracks state laws.
Can I play with Gold Coins only in Delaware?
Gold Coins can’t be cashed out, so Gold Coin play is entertainment, but most big brands block Delaware entirely. Delaware’s April 2025 release focused on cash-prize play, saying VGW misrepresented casino-style coin games as promotional sweepstakes; it doesn’t set out a separate rule for coin play with no prize. Because brands such as Chumba and McLuck exclude Delaware in their rules, you may not be able to register at all. Money spent on coin packages is real money. Our Gold Coins entry and answer on redeeming Gold Coins explain more.
Do Delaware players pay tax on sweepstakes prizes?
Yes, cash prizes count as income for federal tax purposes. The IRS W-2G instructions list sweepstakes as reportable when winnings reach $2,000 for 2026 payments and are at least 300 times the wager, with 24% withholding where winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000. How a Sweeps Coin redemption is classified isn’t settled in the sources here, so keep records of purchases and redemptions and ask a tax professional. Delaware state tax isn’t covered on this page. See our gambling taxes page and keeping gambling records guide.
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