Legally Approved Sweepstakes: 33 Regions Deemed Secure Across the United States
In the world of iGaming, Richard Janvrin has been a familiar name since 2015, covering various aspects of the industry, from news to legal issues. However, it was in 2018 that he entered the iGaming space, bringing his expertise to the forefront of the sweepstakes casino debate.
Before making a mark in the iGaming industry, Janvrin honed his writing skills as a teenager and graduated from the University of New Hampshire. His career in sports coverage laid the foundation for his foray into the iGaming world.
Since April 2025, a significant change has swept across the U.S. iGaming landscape. Following Janvrin's legal opinion, there has been a surge in anti-sweepstakes legislation and enforcement actions.
The legal opinion, while not a fact, has sparked a wave of interpretations leading to legislative bans and regulatory crackdowns. Montana, for instance, enacted a sweepstakes casino ban effective October 1, 2025. Connecticut, New Jersey, and Louisiana passed legislation prohibiting sweepstakes casino games in early to mid-2025. New Jersey formalized its ban with Assembly Bill 5447, signed into law by Governor Murphy in August 2025, criminalizing sweepstakes gambling, including dual-currency systems used for real cash prize equivalents.
Regulatory bodies have also taken action. Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan regulators issued cease-and-desist orders to sweepstakes casino operators. Notably, Maryland’s lottery agency and Michigan’s gaming control board sent enforcement letters to operators. New York's Attorney General declared these operations illegal and sent 26 cease-and-desist orders. Louisiana's Attorney General issued a legal opinion in July 2025 declaring online sweepstakes casinos unlawful under state law. West Virginia's Attorney General issued subpoenas to operators.
California represents a key battleground where legislation aims to balance consumer protections with strict liability for operators. Assembly Bill 831, which passed the Senate Governmental Organization Committee unanimously in July 2025, is under consideration by the Public Safety Committee. The bill focuses on operators and not users, and protects entities like payment processors from liability unless knowingly supporting illegal platforms.
Other states, such as Idaho and Washington, have already implemented bans or strong regulatory actions. Meanwhile, additional states are reportedly considering or preparing to expand online casino legalization as anti-sweepstakes measures limit unregulated platforms. Illinois, for example, is cited as moving toward legal iGaming.
In conclusion, since April 2025, the landscape has shifted with escalating legislative bans and enforcement targeting sweepstakes casinos exploiting legal gray areas. States like New Jersey, Montana, Connecticut, Louisiana, and New York lead the bans with others continuing active crackdowns or legislative processes. California represents a key battleground where legislation aims to balance consumer protections with strict liability for operators. Regulatory authorities are increasingly coordinating efforts to address unlicensed or deceptive sweepstakes gambling platforms.
[1] [News Source 1] [2] [News Source 2] [3] [News Source 3] [4] [News Source 4] [5] [News Source 5]
In the midst of these legislative changes, online casinos have started offering welcome bonuses for sports betting, aiming to lure customers amidst the sweepstakes casino ban (News Source 1). Despite the regulatory crackdown, some casino-and-gambling platforms continue to operate, offering dual-currency systems as a way to bypass anti-sweepstakes legislation (News Source 2).
