You've self-excluded from the regular sportsbooks. Then a site pops up in your feed calling itself "free to play" and legal in most states. Sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks can look like a safe side door. For someone with a betting problem, they work the same way, and your self-exclusion doesn't cover them.
How sweepstakes casinos and betting sites work
These sites use two kinds of virtual currency. You buy Gold Coins, which are just for play, and get Sweeps Coins as a "free" bonus. Sweeps Coins can be played and then redeemed for cash prizes. Since you're technically buying coins and getting sweepstakes entries, operators argue it isn't gambling.
Players don't buy that. In a 2025 survey for the American Gaming Association, 90% of sweepstakes players said they consider it gambling, 68% played mainly to win real money and 80% spent money every month.
States are banning sweepstakes casinos
Many states have moved to ban sweepstakes casinos since 2025, including Montana, Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, California, New York, Indiana, Maine, Tennessee, Louisiana and Oklahoma, with more considering it. Stake.us has pulled out of many states as these laws took effect. A ban changes what's legal. If you're still playing somewhere, stopping is still up to you.
Why your self-exclusion doesn't cover sweepstakes casinos
State self-exclusion lists cover licensed gambling operators. Sweepstakes sites aren't licensed that way, so your state list won't block them. You have to close or exclude on each site yourself. See every gap in the self-exclusion tracker.
How to quit sweepstakes sites
- Redeem what you can, then stop buying coins.
- Self-exclude or close the account on each site. Guides: Stake.us and Fliff. Chumba Casino's operator, VGW, offers self-exclusion from 6 months to indefinite, and permanent closure by emailing support. Heads up: its exclusion covers one site unless you ask support to cover all of its sites.
- Block them. Add the sites to a blocker and your phone's restrictions. This guide shows you how.
- Unfollow and unsubscribe. Sweepstakes brands lean hard on social media and influencers. Stake.us even suggests unfollowing its social accounts when you self-exclude.
- Get support. Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). Sweepstakes betting counts, and you don't have to justify it.
FAQ
Are sweepstakes casinos gambling?
Operators argue they aren't, legally. Many states disagree and have banned them. For someone with a gambling problem, they work the same way, and 90% of players surveyed said they consider it gambling.
Does self-exclusion cover sweepstakes casinos?
It doesn't. State self-exclusion covers licensed operators. You have to exclude or close your account on each sweepstakes site.
Which states have banned sweepstakes casinos?
Since 2025, states including Montana, Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, California, New York, Indiana, Maine, Tennessee, Louisiana and Oklahoma have passed bans. The laws are still changing.
Sources: American Gaming Association: sweepstakes casino player profile (2025); InfoLawGroup: sweepstakes casino laws in 2026; SBC Americas: New York signs sweepstakes ban (2025); iGamingFuture: Stake.us state exits and lawsuits (2026); VGW: Chumba responsible gameplay policy; Stake.us: responsible play policy.
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