Guides
Plain-English explainers on how the sweepstakes casino model actually works, written separately from our site reviews below.
How Sweepstakes Casinos Work
The Gold Coin / Sweeps Coin model explained - how the free entry method works, and what actually happens when you redeem.
Is It Legal in My State?
The legal theory behind sweepstakes casinos, and which states currently restrict or ban them.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in California?
California's AB 831 bans the dual-currency model outright, effective January 1, 2026 - what the law covers and why.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in New York?
New York's Attorney General crackdown and the formal S5935A ban Governor Hochul signed - what happened and why.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Washington State?
Washington relies on an existing felony gambling statute and a 2018 state supreme court ruling, not a new sweepstakes-specific law.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Michigan?
No sweepstakes-specific ban yet, but Michigan's gaming regulator treats the model as unlicensed gambling under existing law and has sent repeated cease-and-desist letters.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Indiana?
Indiana's HB 1052 was the nation's first standalone sweepstakes casino ban, in effect since July 1, 2026.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Montana?
Montana's SB 555 was the first state law to ban the dual-currency model, in effect since October 1, 2025, with felony-level penalties.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Idaho?
No sweepstakes-specific law exists, but Idaho's constitutional gambling ban leaves the model in a legal gray area most operators avoid.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Maine?
Maine's LD 2007 bans dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as of mid-2026 - major operators had already pulled out by the effective date.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in New Jersey?
New Jersey banned the sweepstakes casino model via A-5447, separate from its already-legal regulated real-money online casinos.
Stake.US vs Pulsz
A side-by-side comparison of our two top-rated picks - game library, redemption speed, VIP programs, and mobile apps.
A Tip From a Gambler: Verify Your KYC Before You Cash Out
A real cautionary tale about losing a redemption to a failed identity check - and the simple habit that would have prevented it.
Jackpota vs Shuffle.us
A side-by-side comparison of two highly-rated picks - game library, redemption speed and methods, VIP programs, and mobile access.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Connecticut?
SB 1235 (Public Act 25-112) banned the dual-currency model outright in 2025, making Connecticut one of the first states with a standalone ban.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Louisiana?
HB883 and HB53 together classify sweepstakes play as racketeering-linked "gambling by computer," effective August 1, 2026.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Nevada?
No sweepstakes-specific ban yet, but SB256 sharply raised penalties for unlicensed gambling operators, effective October 1, 2025.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Tennessee?
SB 2136 banned "online sweepstakes games" outright in 2026 after a contested conference-committee fight - the third state to ban this year.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Oklahoma?
SB 1589 banned sweepstakes casinos after lawmakers overrode Gov. Stitt's veto - operators must exit by November 1, 2026.
How We Rate Casinos
The eight things we actually check before giving a casino a star rating - and why every listing has been personally played, tested, and cashed out from.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Illinois?
No ban yet, but the Illinois Gaming Board sent cease-and-desist letters to 65 operators, and a pending bill (SB3439) would outlaw even free-to-play sweepstakes games.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Arizona?
No ban, but the Arizona Department of Gaming issued formal guidance on exactly what makes a free-to-play sweepstakes promotion legal in the first place.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Pennsylvania?
House Bill 2801 would ban sweepstakes casinos outright with fines up to $500,000 per infraction - but it was just filed in October 2026 and faces a steep climb to pass.
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Alabama?
No ban and no bill pending - but Alabama has more sweepstakes casino lawsuits than any other state, testing the model under a 19th-century gambling-loss recovery law.
These guides are educational and general in nature - they are not legal, financial, or gambling-addiction advice. See our disclosure page for more, or compare current offers on the SweepScout homepage.