Sweepstakes casinos in Texas

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Texas?

Texas has no law that bans sweepstakes casinos, and no law that licenses them either. A bill aimed at the model, SB 517, passed the Senate and was received in the House on May 8, 2025, then didn't advance, according to the sweepstakes tracker Sweepsy. With no enacted ban, the major dual-currency brands keep Texas on their open lists.

No ban isn't the same as approval. Sweepstakes casinos say they run promotional sweepstakes rather than gambling, because you can get Sweeps Coins without buying anything. That claim hasn't been tested in a Texas court or ruled on by a Texas agency in any source we could confirm, and lawmakers in other states have rejected it by banning the model outright.

For the rest of the state's picture, including the lottery's move to TDLR and the ban on online lottery sales, see the Texas online casino hub and the Texas gambling laws page.

How dual-currency sweepstakes casinos work

Every major sweepstakes casino runs two currencies. Gold Coins (some brands rename them) are for entertainment play only and can't be cashed out. Sweeps Coins are the prize currency: once played through, they can be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards under each site's rules.

You usually get a small amount of Sweeps Coins free at sign-up or by mail-in request, while larger amounts arrive as a "bonus" when you buy Gold Coin packages. Chumba's terms, for example, set a minimum of 100 Sweeps Coins for a cash redemption and say redemptions can take up to 10 business days to reach a bank.

That structure is why states treat the games differently. New York's 2025 law targets casino-style games with two currencies where players can win cash or cash equivalents, and its Senate release notes that sweepstakes without cash-redeemable rewards aren't affected. The sweepstakes vs real money casinos guide compares the two models in depth.

Texas SB 517: the sweepstakes casino ban that stalled

SB 517 is the closest Texas has come to a sweepstakes casino ban. A third-party tracker reports that it cleared the Senate and reached the House on May 8, 2025, where it didn't move further before the session ended. We couldn't confirm the bill's full text or penalties from an official source, so this page doesn't describe its provisions.

What's clear is the direction elsewhere. Several bans passed in 2025 and 2026, and some reach beyond operators: California's AB 831 covers anyone who knowingly promotes or facilitates dual-currency sweepstakes, including payment processors, geolocation providers and affiliates, according to trade reporting. If a similar bill returns in Texas, the open lists below could change quickly.

Sweepstakes casino bans in other states

Texas players near state lines, and anyone who travels, should know that sweepstakes access depends on where you're physically located when you play. These are the bans recorded as of late October 2026. The sweepstakes casino bans page tracks them in more detail.

Oklahoma matters most to North Texas. SB 1589 bans online casino games and dual-currency sweepstakes from November 1, 2026, with reported liability reaching promoters and affiliates. Brands have been pulling out: High 5's rules say Oklahoma access ended October 29, 2026, and McLuck's terms say it is ceasing Oklahoma operations on November 1, 2026. For New York's law, the NY Senate announcement (opens in a new tab) sets out fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation for operators and promoters.

Which sweepstakes casinos exclude Texas?

Not one brand below lists Texas as an excluded state. The lists come from each brand's own rules or help pages where available, and from third-party review sites where not; excluded-state lists change often, so check the current rules before you register.

Being open to Texans doesn't mean a brand is free of regulatory trouble elsewhere. Trade reports say Maryland, Arizona and Illinois regulators sent cease-and-desist letters to several of these brands in 2025 and 2026, and a 2025 class action in New York against Sportzino's operator makes allegations the court hasn't ruled on.

Sweepstakes casinos vs offshore real-money casinos for Texans

Texans comparing options face two unlicensed models. Neither is licensed by Texas, but they differ in how money moves and what can go wrong. The real money online casinos in Texas page covers the offshore side in more depth.

"Free" coins and free chips: the conditions

Both models advertise free play that comes with strings. Silver Oak's no-deposit page lists $25, $50 and $100 chips with 30x wagering (60x on blackjack and video poker) and a $100 max cashout. On the $25 chip that's $750 of wagering; at a 96.25% RTP slot the expected loss is $28.13, more than the chip itself. Sweeps Coins carry their own playthrough and redemption minimums, so read the rules first. Our Texas no-deposit bonuses page explains more.

How to check a sweepstakes casino before you play in Texas

1. Open the brand's official sweepstakes rules and confirm Texas isn't on the excluded list on the date you register.
2. Read the redemption section: the minimum Sweeps Coins, the playthrough, the accepted payout methods and the processing time.
3. Check the free entry route (often a mail-in request) and its limits.
4. Look up the operator named in the rules and search for regulator actions in other states.
5. Set a purchase limit before you buy any Gold Coin package, and keep receipts.
6. Complete identity checks early, because redemptions are usually held until verification is done.

Sweepstakes play, taxes and help for Texans

Prizes redeemed for cash can still count as income, so keep records of purchases and redemptions and check IRS guidance. Gambling-style losses can feel smaller when they're measured in coins rather than dollars, which is a good reason to track spending in dollars.

If buying coin packages starts to feel hard to stop, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), with call, text and chat through the National Council on Problem Gambling (opens in a new tab). Gamblers Anonymous, Gamban and BetBlocker are other options.

Real-money alternatives with offers via our links

None of our seven partners is a sweepstakes casino, so no partner fits this topic exactly. Decode and Silver Oak are shown as real-money alternatives because both advertise no-deposit chips, the closest thing to free sweepstakes coins. They're offshore, not licensed by Texas or any US state, and Texas law doesn't authorize online casinos, so check the law before depositing. Offers are for 21+ (18+ where allowed) and terms apply.

Decode Casino: $5,000 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Decode's own site advertises a $111 free chip and a crypto bonus with no terms visible. Third-party reviews report other packages: VegasSlotsOnline lists a 500% match plus 50 free spins on Johnny Cash at 30x, and LCB lists code DECODE111 for 111% up to $1,111 at 25x (bonus plus deposit) with a $25 minimum and 90-day validity. Codes change, and the terms at sign-up apply. Decode shows no license on its site; third parties report Curaçao. It reportedly refuses players from Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington, but not Texas. See the Decode review.

Silver Oak Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's site promotes a different deal, up to $10,000 as a 100% match on ten deposits, with wagering of 30x on its offer page but 40x for slots in its terms, 60x for table games and video poker, and a $30 minimum deposit. The sign-up terms apply. Silver Oak's terms name Primrose Media Limited under an Anjouan license, and the casino was named in Michigan's April 9, 2025 cease-and-desist release (opens in a new tab). Read the Silver Oak review.

Partners are ranked in a commercial order, and we earn a commission through these links.

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).