Sweepstakes Casinos by State: Where You Can Play
By Tim Lee · Published · Updated
Not every sweepstakes casino is available in every state. Some states have full bans. Others have heavy restrictions across most sites. And even within the states that are generally open, individual casinos draw their own lines differently.
The fastest way to find what works for you: pick your state for a full availability breakdown and ranked list, or use the state filter on our casino list — every tracked site, live-filterable by state, with ratings and sign-up links.
States with full sweepstakes casino bans
Seven states have enacted statutes that ban or restrict online sweepstakes games. California and New York passed theirs in 2025. Indiana, Tennessee, Maine, Louisiana, and Oklahoma enacted theirs in 2026. Oklahoma’s has an effective date of November 1, 2026.
California — Governor Newsom signed AB 831 on October 11, 2025. It passed the Senate 36-0 and the Assembly 63-0, and took effect January 1, 2026. The law bans dual-currency sweepstakes platforms — meaning any site that uses both Gold Coins and redeemable Sweeps Coins. California residents cannot sign up or earn prize-eligible Sweeps Coins at any standard sweepstakes casino.
New York — Senate Bill S 5935A was signed in December 2025 and took effect immediately. New York residents are blocked from Sweeps Coin gameplay and prize redemptions across the industry.
Indiana — House Bill 1052 became Public Law 153. It was signed on March 12, 2026, and took effect July 1, 2026. The law defines a dual- or multi-currency internet “sweepstakes game” and sets civil penalties for operating one involving Indiana residents. Primary record: Indiana HB 1052. Some operators’ published terms still list Indiana. That terms list is not a finding that the product falls outside the statute.
Tennessee — SB2136, Public Chapter 1117, was signed by the Governor and effective May 22, 2026. The official caption says the enacted law addresses the operation, conduct, or commercial promotion of online sweepstakes games and other online or app-based gambling. The primary bill link and verification date are on the state restrictions monitor. Many operators’ published terms still list Tennessee. That is a separate fact from the statute.
Maine — LD 2007 was signed April 6, 2026 and became Public Law Chapter 645, effective late July 2026. It prohibits operating or promoting an online sweepstakes game using a dual-currency system of payment and simulating casino-style activity, or supporting that operation or promotion. It treats that conduct as unlawful gambling under the Maine Criminal Code and sets civil fines of $10,000–$100,000. Primary records: Maine LD 2007 and enacted text. A site’s published terms accepting Maine are not a finding that the product falls outside the statute.
Louisiana — HB 883 was signed and became Act 182, effective August 1, 2026. It amends R.S. 14:90.3 so an internet game, contest, or promotion using a dual-currency system of payment, allowing exchange for a prize, cash, or cash equivalents (or a chance to win one), and simulating gambling constitutes “gambling by computer”. It also adds Attorney General cease-and-desist and civil-remedy authority under R.S. 27:19.1 and 19.2. Primary records: Louisiana HB 883 and enrolled Act 182. Operator restrictions are a separate fact; a terms listing is not a finding that the product falls outside the statute.
Oklahoma — SB 1589 was enacted on May 14, 2026, when the Legislature overrode the Governor’s veto (Senate 34-10, House 68-19). Its effective date is November 1, 2026. Its liability provisions reach promoters and media affiliates, not only operators. Primary record: Oklahoma SB 1589. Operator terms are a separate fact; a terms listing is not a finding that the product falls outside the statute.
California and New York were large sweepstakes casino markets before those bans. Card Crush uses a single-currency model that falls outside the scope of the California and New York laws and remains available in those two states. That note is only about those two statutes. It is not a conclusion about Indiana, Tennessee, Maine, Louisiana, or Oklahoma.
States that appear most often on restricted lists
Even outside the states with enacted statutes above, some states get blocked by a large number of operators. Across the sites we track, these states show up most often as restricted:
| State | Restriction frequency |
|---|---|
| Washington | Very high — blocked by nearly every site |
| Michigan | Very high |
| Nevada | Very high |
| Montana | Very high |
| Connecticut | High |
| Idaho | High |
| New Jersey | High |
| West Virginia | Moderate |
| Wyoming | Moderate |
Every state has its own availability page with a ranked list of accepting sites — start from the state directory.
Restrictions vary by operator — one site might block Washington and not Michigan, while another does the opposite. The only accurate check is filtering by your specific state.
How to find what’s available in your state
- Go to the sweepstakes casino list
- Open the “Filter by State Availability” dropdown
- Select your state — the table instantly removes every site that lists your state as restricted
- What remains are sites you can sign up at with no redemption barriers
The list covers all 173 active sites we track, including star ratings, minimum redemptions, affiliate status, and sign-up links.
States where most sites are available
If you live outside the commonly restricted states, you likely have access to 100 or more of the sites we track. States like Florida, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and most of the South and Mountain West have very few operator-level restrictions.
State availability on individual casino reviews
Every casino review on this site includes a State Availability section near the bottom. It shows whether that specific casino restricts your state and links back to the full filterable list. If you’re researching a specific site, that section is the quickest way to check.
Frequently asked questions
Why do sweepstakes casinos restrict certain states? Operators block states for several reasons: existing gaming laws that could conflict with the sweepstakes model, tribal gaming exclusivity agreements, attorney general enforcement actions, or conservative legal strategy in states where the rules are ambiguous. Nevada and New Jersey have strict gaming regulators; Washington and Michigan have historically aggressive enforcement postures.
Can I use a VPN to access a blocked casino? No. Sweepstakes casinos use IP checking and geolocation verification. Using a VPN to get around state restrictions violates the terms of service and will typically result in permanent account closure and forfeiture of any balance. It’s not worth it.
I moved out of a restricted state. Can I play now? Yes — as long as you are physically located in an eligible state during gameplay and redemption, most casinos will treat you as eligible based on your current location. Some may ask for identity verification showing your current address on a first redemption.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal everywhere else in the US? In most states, yes. The sweepstakes model works because Sweeps Coins are always available for free — through daily bonuses, mail-in entries (AMOE), and social media giveaways — so no purchase is required to participate. That keeps them legal under federal sweepstakes law in most jurisdictions. California, New York, Indiana, Tennessee, Maine, Louisiana, and Oklahoma (effective November 1, 2026) have enacted statutes aimed at online sweepstakes games. A state that is only restricted is different: the operator excluded it in its own terms.
What’s the difference between a state restriction and a state ban? A ban (California, New York, Indiana, Tennessee, Maine, Louisiana, and Oklahoma from November 1, 2026) means an enacted statute addresses online sweepstakes games. A restriction means the operator itself has chosen not to serve that state, often due to legal risk or regulatory environment. Restrictions can change if an operator reassesses; reversing an enacted statute takes legislative action. An operator can still list a banned state in its terms. That listing does not decide whether the statute applies.