A well-known sweepstakes casino operator has temporarily turned off player purchases in two states as it scrambles to find vendors to provide content in those two markets.
Betty Sweeps informed via email its players in Minnesota and Utah this week that Gold Coin currency package purchases were being blocked as of Dec. 1 because Relax Gaming stopped providing its games to sweeps casinos in those two states.
Here’s what the email said:
As of today, purchases on Betty Sweeps have been paused, as Relax Gaming is no longer available in your state.
But don’t worry — this is only temporary. We’re bringing in new providers and fresh games soon, and we’ll let you know the moment they’re live. Exciting things are loading… and we can’t wait for you to hit “play” again!
Thanks so much for your patience and for being part of the Betty Sweeps family. The fun will be back before you know it!
The excluded markets list for Betty Sweeps is currently as follows: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Washington, and West Virginia.
What’s going on in Minnesota?
Minnesota recently joined the fray of states that have in some way taken action against the online sweepstakes gaming industry.
On Nov. 5, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced his office had sent cease-and-desist letters to 14 operators, including three sweepstakes casinos in Zula Casino, Fortune Coins, and “VG LuckyLand” — which likely is in reference to VGW, the operator behind LuckyLand Slots, soon-to-launch LuckyLand Casino, Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and United Slots (which VGW told Sweepsy will launch in the first quarter of 2026).
The letters ordered the operators to cease all activities in Minnesota by Dec. 1. As of Dec. 6, none of the three operators had Minnesota listed in their excluded markets in their terms and conditions.
The effect of those cease-and-desists, however, has extended beyond just those three operators to vendors as well, with Relax Gaming pulling its games from its partner sweeps casinos in Minnesota.
Ellison sent cease-and-desists to 11 offshore operators as well:
- BetAnySports
- BetUs
- XBet
- BetNow
- BetWhale
- EveryGame Sportsbook
- BetOnline
- Slotsandcasino
- Bovada
- MyBookie.com
- Sportsbetting.com
“The millions of players who have enjoyed Social Plus games for more than a decade deserve a safe, regulated environment, which is why we are working with Minnesota legislators to promote enhanced regulatory standards for the industry and potential revenue opportunities for the state,” said Jeff Duncan, Executive Director of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, in a statement responding to the cease-and-desists. “We look forward to continuing this engagement, while also correcting any misinformation and confusion about our industry of Social Plus games.
“SGLA stands ready to work with Minnesota officials to bring in new tax revenue and create a higher level of consumer protection to ensure safe participation for the hundreds of thousands of Minnesota adults who play Social Plus games for fun and entertainment.”
Why Utah?
Utah has not passed any legislation directly addressing sweeps casinos, and there is no publicly known presence of cease-and-desist orders.
However, Utah has some of the strictest gambling laws in the United States, banning nearly all forms of betting, including online casinos, lotteries, sportsbooks, and even many sweepstakes or raffles. State law defines gambling broadly as risking something of value on an outcome influenced by chance — language that does not directly attack the sweeps dual-currency model with Sweeps Coins that can be redeemed for real money, but it’s not a huge leap to argue Sweeps Coins could be included in that “something of value” definition.
Utah also bans “fringe gambling” and “fringe gaming devices” — language that has been previously used to target video sweepstakes in convenience stores. Even charitable raffles or lotteries are effectively outlawed.
Translation: Utah’s legal environment is hostile to anything resembling a gambling operation, and with some games vendors already becoming increasingly squeamish in regards to sweeps due to the scrutiny and pressure facing the industry right now, it’s not a shock to see Relax Gaming pull its games from sweeps casinos in Utah.
Other recent vendor departures in Minnesota, Arizona
Relax Gaming isn’t the only vendor ending its sweeps offerings in Minnesota.
Playson and Print Studios are also gone from sweeps casinos in the state. Same with Hacksaw Gaming and Nolimit City, which pulled its games from Minnesota sweeps casinos, too.
Outside Minnesota, Relax Gaming and Print Studios have also stopped providing their games to sweeps casinos in Arizona, where the state gaming regulator, and Arizona Department of Gaming, has been highly active in terms of sending out sweeps cease-and-desist letters.
