Sweepstakes casinos are no longer available in Connecticut. Governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 1235 (Public Act 25-112) into law in June 2025, making Connecticut one of the first states to explicitly ban dual-currency sweepstakes platforms, with the ban effective October 1, 2025. The good news for Connecticut players is that the state offers something most banned states don't: fully licensed real-money online casinos, operated by DraftKings and FanDuel via tribal gaming compacts. If you want casino-style gaming online, those are the legal route. Public Act 25-112 (SB 1235) prohibits conducting or promoting sweepstakes that use simulated gambling devices or facilitate real or simulated online casino gaming, unless the operator holds a valid Connecticut gaming licence. Violations are classified as unfair or deceptive trade practices and treated as professional gambling — a Class A misdemeanour carrying fines up to $5,000 and potential imprisonment. Do not attempt to use a VPN to access sweepstakes platforms from Connecticut. Connecticut is one of only eight US states with fully licensed real-money online casino gaming. Two platforms operate legally in the state under tribal gaming compacts: If you prefer free-to-play gaming with no real money involved, our social casino recommendations are available in every US state: You can also play thousands of free casino games directly on this site — our free slots, free table games, and free video poker pages require no sign-up and no download. Connecticut had allowed sweepstakes casinos to operate alongside its licensed iGaming market for several years. The first enforcement signal came in October 2024, when the state ordered Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW — operator of Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and LuckyLand Slots) to cease offering sweepstakes services to Connecticut residents. In March 2025, the Department of Consumer Protection suspended licensing for High 5 Games following a $1.4 million settlement. Senate Bill 1235 passed both chambers with extraordinary unanimity — 146–0 in the House and 36–0 in the Senate — before being signed by Governor Lamont in June 2025. The law took effect October 1, 2025. It prohibits any sweepstakes or promotional drawing that uses simulated gambling devices or facilitates online casino gaming or sports wagering, unless the operator holds a valid state gaming licence. This effectively requires sweepstakes operators to obtain a tribal gaming compact — an impossible bar for the vast majority of the industry. MegaBonanza, WOW Vegas, Stake.us, and dozens of other platforms exited Connecticut either before or shortly after the effective date. The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) criticised the law for failing to distinguish between lawful promotional sweepstakes and regulated gambling, but the legislature's position was clear. Connecticut's already-licensed iGaming market — which generated over $123 million in tax revenue since its 2021 launch — provided regulators and legislators with a clear rationale: if players want online casino gaming, the licensed and taxed operators are the appropriate route. See our Connecticut casino guide for more on the state's broader gambling framework. No. Governor Lamont signed SB 1235 (Public Act 25-112) into law in June 2025, banning dual-currency sweepstakes platforms effective October 1, 2025. All major sweepstakes operators have exited Connecticut. Operating or promoting a sweepstakes casino in the state is now a Class A misdemeanour. Connecticut has two fully licensed real-money online casinos: DraftKings Casino (partnered with Foxwoods/Mashantucket Pequot Tribe) and FanDuel Casino (partnered with Mohegan Sun). Both offer slots, table games, live dealer gaming, and sports betting from a single account. You must be 21+ and physically located in Connecticut to play. Free social casinos — 7 Seas Casino, Vegas World, and Casino World — are also available with no restrictions. No, and we strongly advise against it. Using a VPN does not change your legal status under Connecticut law and may violate the terms of service of any platform you access. If a platform detects your actual location during KYC verification, your account and any unredeemed balances will be at risk. We do not recommend VPN use to circumvent state bans. It is unlikely in the near term. The ban passed with unanimous legislative support and the state's iGaming market provides a licensed alternative that satisfies most of the demand that sweepstakes casinos addressed. No bill to repeal or amend Public Act 25-112 is currently under consideration. Yes. Free-to-play social casinos with no real cash prizes are legal in Connecticut and every other US state. Public Act 25-112 specifically targets dual-currency sweepstakes platforms where Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes — pure free-play social casinos without prize redemption are not covered by the ban. Whether you play at licensed real-money casinos or free social casino platforms, help is available if gaming becomes a concern: Connecticut's licensed online casinos (DraftKings and FanDuel) are required by state law to offer responsible gaming tools including deposit limits, cooling-off periods, and voluntary self-exclusion. The state also operates a self-exclusion programme covering Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun for land-based play.Connecticut Sweepstakes Casinos 2026
❌ Sweepstakes casinos — banned
✅ Legal alternatives in Connecticut
⚠️ Sweepstakes casinos are banned in Connecticut as of October 1, 2025
Legal Online Casino Options for Connecticut Players
Connecticut's Sweepstakes Ban — What Happened
Frequently Asked Questions
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Responsible Gambling