Which States are able to operate under legally, under sweepstakes laws?
In general, the States where you will find a selection of sweepstakes social casinos to play online, satisfy the following conditions:
- No statewide statutory ban in force;
- No active, state-level prohibition or broad cease-and-desist regime that prevents operators from offering the opportunity to play under sweepstakes laws and allow players to redeem wins for real prizes.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.*
California currently has no ban, but lawmakers advanced AB 831, a bill aimed at prohibiting online sweepstakes casinos; as of late September 2025 it had not been enacted. Many operators have already left the market.
If I were in California, I'd probably play it safe for now and stick to a 100% legal social casino, like 7 Seas Casino
Montana — Full ban. Montana passed SB 555 (effective October 1, 2025), making it the first state to explicitly outlaw online sweepstakes casinos. Major operators exited ahead of enforcement.
Connecticut — Full ban. In June 2025, Governor Ned Lamont signed SB 1235 prohibiting online sweepstakes casinos; the state also settled an enforcement case tied to an unlicensed sweepstakes platform.
New Jersey — Full ban. On August 15, 2025, Governor Phil Murphy signed A5447 banning sweepstakes casino sites statewide.
Washington — Effectively illegal online. Washington treats transmitting/receiving online “gambling information” as a Class C felony; the Gambling Commission confirms online gambling is not permitted, which is why sweepstakes with cash redemptions don’t operate there.
New York — AG crackdown; bill moving. In June 2025 the Attorney General announced she had stopped 26 online sweepstakes casinos operating in the state; lawmakers also advanced S5935A to prohibit such games. In practice, major brands have withdrawn NY access.
Nevada — Aggressive enforcement. SB 256 (2025) bolstered the state’s power against unlicensed online gambling (including sweeps models), prompting multiple operators to exit Nevada in August. Not an explicit “sweeps ban,” but functionally hostile.
Idaho — No cash redemptions. Operators commonly block Sweeps-Coin redemption in Idaho; residents can usually only play non-redeemable “gold coin” modes, which means the sweepstakes model isn’t fully available there. (This is reflected in operator terms and state-specific guidance.)
Michigan — Sustained regulator actions. The Michigan Gaming Control Board has been issuing rounds of cease-and-desist orders to unlicensed sites; top sweepstakes brands stopped serving Michigan.
Delaware — Operator withdrawals. Leading operator VGW (Chumba/LuckyLand/Global Poker) withdrew after the Delaware DGE demanded a halt; others have followed, so cash-redeemable sweeps aren’t freely available.
Maryland & Mississippi — Limited access. Prominent operators list these states among restricted jurisdictions for Sweeps-Coin play/redemption, limiting “fully legal” availability. (Always check the operator’s current T&Cs.)
Louisiana — Tightening stance. While a 2025 ban bill was vetoed, prominent operators restrict Sweeps-Coin play/redemption in LA, and the AG has signaled a tougher posture.
West Virginia — Enforcement pressure. Over 20 sweeps sites exited WV after AG subpoenas in summer 2025; availability is inconsistent and not “freely” offered statewide.
Why so many lists disagree online: A state can be “legal” for promotional sweepstakes in general and still be off-limits for casino-style, dual-currency sweepstakes after regulatory action or operator policy changes. The most reliable real-world signal is who will actually let residents redeem sweeps for cash today (see operator T&Cs).
Quick FAQ
Yes, today it is, but AB 831 would ban online sweepstakes casinos if it becomes law. Operators are leaving the market, so it's best to stay away. Play at a legal Social Casino like 7 Seas, or Vegas World instead.
Because statewide enforcement (NY AG action) and new enforcement powers (NV SB 256) have driven major brands to geoblock or withdraw. Consumers cannot freely redeem cash prizes there, so no point playing, unless just for free.
No. That’s part of the traditional sweepstakes framework, but states can (and do) treat casino-style sweepstakes as unlicensed gambling or impose no-redemption rules.
Always combine statutory checks with operator availability.
Summary
Sweepstakes social casinos remain freely available in about 37 states.
The clearest no-go states right now are Montana, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Washington, while New York, Nevada, Idaho, Michigan, Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia present significant barriers or restrictions that keep them from being “fully legal” in practice.