Sweepstakes Casinos: What They Are

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Guides in this section

How they workThe two-coin model, how players get coins and why regulators object.Legal status by stateThe ten state laws aimed at sweepstakes casinos, and what happens elsewhere.Social casinosHow social casinos differ from sweepstakes casinos, and why they still carry legal questions.New sitesWhy we do not list new sweepstakes casinos, and what to check at one.Instant redemptionWhat instant redemption claims mean, and what has to happen before you get a prize.Sweepstakes appsWhat Apple and Google policies say, and what an app listing does and does not show.No-deposit offersWhat a sweepstakes no-deposit bonus gives you, and the conditions before any prize.Free sweeps coinsHow people get free sweeps coins, how mail-in requests work and their limits.CryptoHow cryptocurrency fits into sweepstakes casinos, and the risks it adds.Fish table gamesWhat fish table games are, whether they take skill, and where authorities have acted.

Where are sweepstakes casinos banned?

Our state research found ten states with a law aimed at sweepstakes casinos. Each state page gives the detail and the date we checked it, and our sweepstakes laws by state page sets the laws side by side.

CA, California CT, Connecticut IN, Indiana LA, Louisiana ME, Maine MT, Montana NJ, New Jersey NY, New York OK, Oklahoma TN, Tennessee

How are sweepstakes casinos different from licensed casinos?

The main differences are the currency and the oversight.

	Licensed casino	Sweepstakes casino
What you play with	Real money	Virtual coins
What you get back	Cash withdrawals	Prizes when you redeem eligible coins
Oversight	A state gaming regulator	No state casino license
Availability	Seven states	Varies, and shrinking as states act

What are states doing about sweepstakes casinos?

Several have moved against them. California's AB 831 took effect on January 1, 2026, and covers operators and companies that knowingly support them, with penalties of up to one year in jail and $25,000 per violation, according to a ZwillGen analysis. On September 9, 2026, the New York Attorney General announced an $8 million settlement with VGW, operator of Chumba Casino, Global Poker and Luckyland Slots. A December 2025 New York law makes the dual-coin model unlawful there.

Does InsideCasino.us recommend sweepstakes casinos?

No. We explain how they work and where they stand, and we do not rank them or link to sign-ups. Check your state page before you play or buy coins. This is information, not legal advice.