New York Sweepstake Casinos 2025

Sweepstakes casinos are no longer legal in New York. In early June 2025, the state’s Attorney General and Gaming Commission issued cease-and-desist letters to more than two dozen platforms offering sweeps coin-based games, declaring them illegal under existing gambling laws. Shortly after, lawmakers passed a bill to ban the entire sweepstakes casino model, targeting operators, suppliers, affiliates, and even advertisers.

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. Operators like VGW (behind Chumba, LuckyLand, and Global Poker) have already pulled out of the New York market, with full exits expected by August 2025.

📰 New York sweepstakes timeline

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.

June 18, 2025 — Senate Bill S5935, which prohibits online sweepstakes games and revenue from illegal markets and outlines penalties and enforcement provisions, advances through the State Assembly and goes to the desk of Gov. Kathy Hochul. The bill will go into law if Hochul signs it. Only a veto from Hochul would stop the bill from becoming law.

June 16, 2025 — Attorney General Letitia James issued cease‑and‑desist letters to 26 online sweepstakes casinos, including Chumba, LuckyLand, Global Poker, McLuck, High 5 and others, citing violations of New York’s gambling laws due to their use of virtual coins redeemable for cash or prizes. The orders, initially sent in early March and publicly confirmed on June 6, 2025, also included warnings to consumers.

June 16, 2025 — S5935 passes through the New York Assembly Rules Committee by a 20-9 vote, sending the bill to the full Assembly for consideration. The committee agrees to substitute S5935 for AB 6745, essentially consolidating the two sweepstakes-banning bills and moving S5935 forward.

June 11, 2025 — S5935 advances through the New York Senate by a 57-2 margin, sending the bill to the state Assembly Rules Committee for consideration.

May 25, 2025 — VGW, which operates Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, announces that it will exit New York completely by Aug. 1. The decision comes as multiple bills that seek to ban sweepstakes casinos pass through state legislative chambers.

April 30, 2025 — Assembly Bill 6745, which seeks to ban online sweepstakes games, advances through the New York Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee and goes to the Assembly for consideration.

March 25, 2025 — Several sweeps casinos announce that they will exit the New York market, as multiple sweepstakes-banning bills advance through state legislative chambers. The list includes Hello Millions, High 5 Casino, and others.

March 5, 2025 — Sen. Joe Addabo introduces S5935, which prohibits “operating, conducting, or promoting certain online sweepstakes games or supporting the operations of such games.” The bill is one of several similar bills that will be introduced to the New York Legislature in the 2025 session.

❌ 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