New York Sweepstake Casinos 2025

New York sweepstakes casinos have been a hot topic for 2025. Only a handful of such sites still operate in the Empire State, thanks to a cease-and-desist letter forcing more than two dozen platforms to cease operations. Shortly after, lawmakers passed a bill to ban NY sweepstakes casino games.

The bill is now awaiting the governor’s signature, and once enacted, it will ban all dual-currency sweepstakes casinos that allow players to redeem coins for real-world prizes.

📰 New York timeline and news

• September 18, 2025: There has been no update or progress made since the bill was passed.
• August 28, 2025: New York State Sen. Joe Addabbo tells Sweepsy that he believes sweepstakes casino regulation is a better option than outright banning sweepstakes casinos as outlined in S5935A.
• August 13, 2025: Per CasinoReports (Saratoga Racing and Gaming Conference), Rep. Bill Pascrell and New York state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. agreed that the most workable solution is to allow sweepstakes casinos — but only if those operators are regulated and taxed on par with authorized gaming companies.
• June 18, 2025 — The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) and Social & Promotional Games Association (SPGA) issue statements condemning various aspects of the bill, including the potential effect on non-gaming businesses, including those that offer free-to-play online games.

How New York got here

New York’s crackdown on sweepstakes casinos began in January 2025 when New York State Gaming Commission chair Brian O’Dwyer told regulators that certain social‑gaming operators were “running afoul” of state gambling laws and that he had referred them to law enforcement.

In response, Sen. Joseph Addabbo introduced an iGaming bill aimed at legalizing online casinos while barring operators that had offered unlicensed sweepstakes games within the previous three years from obtaining a license.

In early March, Addabbo filed Senate Bill 5935, which defined online sweepstakes as casino‑style games using a dual‑currency model (Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins), prohibited both the games and their supporting services, and set fines up to $100,000. The Social & Promotional Games Association (SPGA) condemned the bill as a deeply flawed attempt to criminalize legitimate promotions.

Meanwhile, operators exited pre‑emptively: emails showed that Hello Millions, PlayFame, SpinBlitz, and Rolling Riches planned to close New York accounts by late April, and on April 24 the major brand Funzpoints followed suit.

VGW — owner of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker — later announced that New York players would stop receiving Sweeps Coins after June 2 and that redemptions would end on August 1.

Enforcement escalated on June 6, when Attorney General Letitia James ordered 26 sweepstakes platforms to shut down and called them illegal and dangerous. The SPGA countered that sweepstakes promotions are legal under federal law and operate under strict consumer‑protection rules.

Legislative momentum continued: on June 11 the Assembly Ways and Means Committee advanced its companion bill A 6745, the Senate passed S5935 that same day, and on June 18 the Assembly approved S5935 and sent it to Gov. Kathy Hochul. The measure bans dual‑currency sweepstakes games and imposes fines on operators and service providers.

Trade groups urged a veto, arguing the bill mischaracterizes sweepstakes and could stifle innovation. Addabbo later said he favors regulation over outright prohibition and believes a regulated framework could generate revenue and jobs.

❌ Exit dates for New York sweepstake casinos

⚖️ How the model worked

Sweepstakes casinos offered casino-style games in New York based on a no-purchase method. Players could join for free and receive Gold and Sweeps Coins provided by the operator to access slots, blackjack, roulette, and other available games. Sweepstake casinos provided NY players with a daily login bonus and the option to write letters (AMOE) to receive additional Sweeps Coins for free. These coins could be used for regular play, and redeemed for real cash prizes.

These operations differed from real-money casinos, as players were not obligated to purchase coins to play.

New York gambling laws

New York allows certain forms of gambling, but the online market remains limited. Regulated online sports betting and daily fantasy sports are currently the only legal types of online gambling.

Mobile sports betting was legalized on April 6, 2021, through the state budget. Licensed operators launched on Jan. 8, 2022, with sportsbooks like FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars among the first to go live. In-person sports betting has been on the books as legal since 2013, with the first retail sportsbooks opening in 2019.

DFS contests were legalized in June 2016 when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation classifying them as games of skill. In March 2022, the New York Court of Appeals upheld the law, confirming that DFS does not violate the state’s constitutional ban on unregulated gambling.

Sweepstakes casinos are in a holding pattern until the governor signs the bill or elects to veto it. Most operators exited the state beforehand, leaving no legal pathway for sweepstakes-style casino gaming in New York.

Online casino gambling (iGaming) remains illegal. State Sen. Joseph Addabbo has introduced several bills to legalize online slots, table games, and lottery products over the years. His latest effort, Senate Bill S2614, was introduced in January 2025 and sought to regulate iGaming as a source of new tax revenue and consumer protection. Efforts have stalled, but Addabbo remains a leading advocate. He has also introduced Bill S9044 to update DFS regulations by raising the minimum player age to 21, creating a $5 million licensing fee, and explicitly legalizing peer-to-peer “pick’em” contests.

Other forms of gambling are well established. The New York Lottery is legal and widely available, including instant-win and draw games available online through the official NY Lottery app. Horse race betting is also legal and regulated, with wagering available at racetracks, off-track betting (OTB) locations, and approved online platforms like NYRA Bets and TVG.

Land-based casinos are permitted across the state, including both commercial casinos regulated by the New York State Gaming Commission and tribal casinos operating under federal agreements. These venues may also offer retail sportsbooks and poker rooms.

Alternative casinos in New York

Since New York has no online options, outside of sweepstakes, the only alternative is to visit one of the local casinos. Here is a complete list, along with contact information.

🧍Responsible gambling in New York

New York’s sweepstakes casinos offer an alternative to traditional online gambling, but responsible gaming practices remain crucial. For those facing challenges with online gambling, several support options are available:

• New York State Gambling Commission
• New York Council on Problem Gambling
• National Council on Problem Gambling – New York 
• New York Problem Gambling Helpline
  • Call: 1-877-8-HOPENY
  • Text: HOPENY