📊 Live Legislative Tracker

Sweepstakes Casino Legal Status by State — 2026

The definitive US tracker — confirmed bans, pending legislation, and enforcement actions across all 50 states + DC. Updated as laws change. Last updated: 2026-03-18

9
Banned
18
Restricted
21
Legal

⚠️ Disclaimer: This tracker is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Sweepstakes casino law is changing rapidly — always verify current status at your state's gaming authority before playing. Contact information: service@winthelottery.com

How This Tracker Works

We monitor state legislation, attorney general enforcement actions, and operator announcements to maintain this tracker. Banned = law in effect or de facto ban via enforcement. Restricted = active C&D letters, pending legislation, or operator self-restrictions making access unreliable. Legal = no confirmed ban, no active enforcement, operators currently accessible. Indiana is listed as Banned (effective July 1, 2026) since the law is signed but not yet in effect.

Banned / Effectively Banned

10 states
California❌ Banned
Law: AB 831Effective: Jan 1, 2026

Criminal misdemeanor. Fines $1,000–$25,000 per violation + up to 1 year jail. Liability extends to payment processors, geolocation vendors, and media affiliates. All major operators exited by Dec 31, 2025.

New York❌ Banned
Law: S5935AEffective: Dec 5, 2025

Passed Assembly 141–0, Senate 57–2. Fines $10,000–$100,000 per violation. Extends enforcement to payment processors and geolocation vendors. AG James had ordered 26 platforms to cease operations in June 2025.

New Jersey❌ Banned
Law: A5447Effective: Aug 2025

Expands definition of prize equivalents to cover digital currencies like Sweeps Coins. Division of Gaming Enforcement has enforcement powers.

Connecticut❌ Banned
Law: SB 1235Effective: Oct 1, 2025

Reclassifies sweepstakes casinos as a Class D felony. Passed House 146–0. Followed a $1.5M settlement with High 5 Games.

Montana❌ Banned
Law: SB 555Effective: Oct 1, 2025

First state to explicitly ban. Penalties up to 10 years imprisonment and $50,000 fines. Signed by Gov. Gianforte May 23, 2025.

Indiana❌ Banned (Jul 1, 2026)
Law: HB 1052Effective: Jul 1, 2026

Signed by Gov. Braun March 13, 2026. Indiana Gaming Commission can levy civil fines up to $100,000 per violation. Passed House 87–11, Senate 37–8. Exempts peer-to-peer skill poker and state lottery.

Washington❌ Banned
Law: State Gambling Commission policyEffective: Pre-existing

$415M class-action settlement (DoubleDown vs. IGT) confirmed sweepstakes platforms violate state gambling law. All operators have ceased operations.

Nevada❌ Banned
Law: Nevada Gaming Control Board regulationsEffective: Pre-existing

Gaming Control Board prohibits sweepstakes platforms outside state oversight. Most major operators do not accept Nevada players.

Michigan❌ Effectively Banned
Law: MGCB enforcementEffective: Ongoing since 2023

Michigan Gaming Control Board issued cease-and-desist letters following AG action against Golden Hearts Games. Has regulated real-money iGaming market. Most operators have exited.

Idaho❌ Effectively Banned
Law: 1992 constitutional prohibitionEffective: Pre-existing

State law prohibits cash prize redemptions. Sweeps Coins cannot be redeemed for cash. Most major operators do not operate in Idaho.

⚠️

Restricted / Grey Zone / Watch List

20 states
West Virginia⚠️ Effectively Banned
Law: AG enforcementEffective: Ongoing 2025

AG JB McCuskey issued subpoenas to multiple operators. McLuck, Hello Millions exited. High 5 Casino shut down Feb 18, 2025. Has regulated real-money online casino market.

Louisiana⚠️ Effectively Banned
Law: LGCB enforcementEffective: Ongoing 2025

Legislature passed SB 181 (2025) but Gov. Landry vetoed it. Louisiana Gaming Control Board sent 40 C&D letters. HB 883 pre-filed for 2026 session. Most operators have exited.

Florida⚠️ Legal — Watch List
Law: HB 189 (pending — verify)Effective: TBD

Currently legal with $5,000 prize cap. HB 189 cleared all House committees before March 13, 2026 session end — final floor vote status unconfirmed. Florida Gaming Control Commission has issued C&D letters. Verify current status at flhouse.gov.

Illinois⚠️ Restricted
Law: IGB enforcementEffective: Feb 2026

Illinois Gaming Board sent 65 C&D letters in February 2026 to major operators. 63 of 65 operators ignored letters and continue operating. New legislation introduced. No ban law passed yet.

Maryland⚠️ Restricted
Law: AG enforcementEffective: Jan 2025

Cease-and-desist letters sent Jan 2025 to Golden Hearts, Zula, McLuck, Fortune Coins, Stake.us. SB 860 passed Senate unanimously (2025) but did not become law. 2026 legislation progressing.

Pennsylvania⚠️ Restricted
Law: C&D enforcementEffective: Ongoing

Has regulated iGaming market. C&D letters issued. High 5 Casino exited PA Feb 2025. Some platforms still active. Technically legal but under enforcement pressure.

Delaware⚠️ Restricted
Law: AG enforcementEffective: Ongoing

C&D letters issued. De facto ban posture. Many operators do not serve Delaware residents.

Arizona⚠️ Restricted
Law: AG enforcementEffective: 2025

Authorities sent C&D letters to some operators in 2025. Sweepstakes casinos still largely accessible. No ban law passed.

Tennessee⚠️ Restricted — Ban Pending
Law: SB 2136 (passed Senate 32–0)Effective: Session ends Apr 24, 2026

AG Skrmetti issued C&D letters to ~40 operators Dec 2025. Senate passed SB 2136 32–0 in March 2026. House Bill 1885 also pending. Not yet law — still legal while House considers.

Oklahoma⚠️ Restricted — Ban Pending
Law: SB 1589 (passed Senate 48–0)Effective: Nov 1, 2026 if signed

Senate passed SB 1589 48–0 in March 2026. Would classify violations as Class C2 felonies. Pending House vote and governor signature. Not yet law.

Iowa⚠️ Restricted
Law: SF 2289 (passed Senate)Effective: TBD

Grants Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission authority to issue C&D orders and seek injunctive relief. Does not categorically ban but gives regulator enforcement tools. House status pending.

Maine⚠️ Restricted
Law: LD 2007 (in committee)Effective: TBD

Maine Gambling Control Unit issued consumer warning summer 2025. LD 2007 sent from committee with divided report (11 for, 2 against). Currently before full chamber. Legal while legislation pending.

Hawaii⚠️ Restricted
Law: Skill-based prize onlyEffective: Pre-existing

Cash-redeemable prizes only legal if games are skill-based. Chance-based sweepstakes casinos operate in a grey area. Legislation progressing through state legislature.

Utah⚠️ Restricted
Law: Strict anti-gambling postureEffective: Pre-existing

Technically accessible under sweepstakes law, but some operators explicitly block Utah players. No specific ban law but strict state gambling prohibitions generally.

Kentucky⚠️ Restricted
Law: VGW settlementEffective: Ongoing

VGW settled a Kentucky case without admitting wrongdoing. Some platforms block KY residents out of caution. No current ban legislation.

Mississippi⚠️ Legal — Close Watch
Law: SB 2104 (stalled Mar 3, 2026)Effective: N/A — bill died

SB 2104 passed Senate but stalled in House Gaming Committee March 3, 2026 — missed crossover deadline. Currently legal. Second year in a row bill has failed. May return in 2027.

Rhode Island⚠️ Restricted
Law: Self-restriction by operatorsEffective: Ongoing

Has regulated real-money online casino market. Many larger operators self-restrict Rhode Island access. No confirmed ban legislation.

Massachusetts⚠️ Restricted — Watch
Law: HB H.4431 (advancing)Effective: TBD

Legislation advancing to potentially ban sweeps as part of online casino legalization package. No law yet. Currently legal.

Virginia⚠️ Legal — Watch
Law: HB 161 / SB 118 (failed conference)Effective: N/A — bills died

Both chambers passed versions of a sweepstakes ban linked to iGaming legalization, but failed to reconcile in conference before session ended March 14, 2026. Currently legal. May be revived in 2027.

Washington D.C.⚠️ Restricted
Law: Operator self-restrictionEffective: Ongoing

Many operators explicitly block DC residents in their terms of service. Not a formal legislative ban but access is restricted in practice.

Currently Legal

21 states
Alabama✅ Legal

Stake.us faced a lawsuit (dismissed). Some operators self-restrict. Currently open market.

Alaska✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Arkansas✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Colorado✅ Legal

Has regulated sports betting. Sweepstakes operate alongside it. No C&D activity confirmed.

Georgia✅ Legal

VGW case dismissed. Active market with no enforcement action.

Kansas✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Minnesota✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Missouri✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Nebraska✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

New Hampshire✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

New Mexico✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

North Carolina✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

North Dakota✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Ohio✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Oregon✅ Legal

No ban legislation. No enforcement action confirmed.

South Carolina✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

South Dakota✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Texas✅ Legal

Major market. Ban legislation has not advanced. Open market.

Vermont✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Wisconsin✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Wyoming✅ Legal

No ban legislation. Open market.

Key Sources

VegasInsider — Complete 50 State Guide 2026 SweepSy — Live Sweepstakes Casino Bills Tracker iGaming Business — 2025 Year in Review Gambling Insider — US Gambling Bill Tracker 2026 Snell & Wilmer — Banned, Fined, and Redefined: The 2025 State Crackdown KPMG — Sweepstakes Gaming Emerging Industry Primer (June 2025)

To report an inaccuracy or update: service@winthelottery.com