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Where Sweepstakes Casinos Are Banned in 2026: State-by-State Update
California, New York, New Jersey and more have banned sweepstakes casinos, and Oklahoma is next on Nov. 1. Here is where things stand in September 2026.
Sweepstakes casinos spent 2025 and 2026 losing ground state by state. The model, where you play with free or purchasable Gold Coins and win redeemable Sweeps Coins, still operates legally across most of the country. But the list of places it can’t reach is growing fast.
Banned outright
These states have passed laws or taken regulatory action that bars the dual-currency model:
- California. AB 831, signed in October 2025, took effect January 1, 2026. It extends liability beyond operators to payment processors and affiliates, and every major brand left the state by the end of 2025.
- Connecticut and Montana. Both bans took effect October 1, 2025. Connecticut classifies operating a sweepstakes casino as a felony.
- New York. Banned as of December 2025.
- New Jersey. A statutory ban followed the state regulator pushing dozens of operators out.
- Indiana, Maine, and Tennessee. Statutory bans passed in the 2025–26 wave. Tennessee replaced attorney-general enforcement with a dedicated statute in May 2026.
- Louisiana. Regulator enforcement pushed operators out, and a 2026 statute followed.
Next up: Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s ban takes effect November 1, 2026. If you play from Oklahoma, redeem any eligible Sweeps Coins before then.
Closed by existing law
Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and Michigan never needed a new law. Existing gambling statutes or regulator positions keep the major operators out.
Legal, but shrinking
In Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, and West Virginia, cease-and-desist letters or regulated iGaming markets have led many brands to exclude players even without a ban. Iowa’s regulator gained new cease-and-desist authority in 2026, so expect more exits there.
What it means for you
Sweepstakes casinos remain available in roughly 30-plus states, including big markets like Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio. Each operator also keeps its own exclusion list on top of state law. Our state checker shows which of the top five casinos accept players in your state, and we update it as laws change.
Frequently asked questions
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in the US?
In most states, yes. They operate under promotional sweepstakes law with a no-purchase-necessary model. As of September 2026, a growing list of states has banned them, including California, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee, and several others keep operators out through existing gambling law.
Is Oklahoma banning sweepstakes casinos?
Yes. Oklahoma's ban takes effect on November 1, 2026. Players there should redeem eligible Sweeps Coin balances before that date.
Can I use a VPN to play from a banned state?
No. Every major operator prohibits VPNs in its terms and verifies location, and accounts caught doing it can be closed with balances forfeited.