Matthew Bain
Matthew Bain has covered the legal gambling landscape in the US since 2022, both as a content director at Catena Media and now as a freelancer for Comped and Sweepsy. Before that, he spent six years as a sports reporter and editor for the USA TODAY Network, primarily at the Des Moines Register. Through his various roles, Matthew has racked up experience in the casino, sports betting, and lottery markets.
Articles by Matthew Bain
- News
Ruby Sweeps Is Shutting Down In Nevada On Aug. 15
Ruby Sweeps will exit Nevada Aug. 15, citing "changes in the state of Nevada" that target a group of operators including sweeps casinos.
Aug 14, 2025 - News
Inside The 'Gut-And-Amend' Process Putting CA Sweeps Ban Bill On The Fast Track
California’s AB831 morphed from a tribal gaming bill to a sweeps casino ban, spotlighting the controversial gut-and-amend lawmaking tactic.
Aug 12, 2025 - News
Modo.us Adds California Legal Protection To Its Terms & Conditions
Modo.us adds broad CA liability waiver as AB831 nears passage, aiming to shield itself if sweepstakes casinos are banned in the state.
Aug 10, 2025 - News
McLuck, B-Two Operations Sweeps Casinos Re-Open In 2 States
B-Two reopens McLuck, Hello Millions, SpinBlitz, and PlayFame to Alabama, Georgia players, reversing previous restrictions.
Aug 9, 2025 - News
Light & Wonder Says Sweeps Casinos Causing 'Top-Line Impact' On Its Social Casino Apps
Light & Wonder blames sweeps casinos in part for SciPlay revenue dip, touts gains in states banning sweeps, and eyes growth in social gaming.
Aug 8, 2025 - News
RealPrize Adds 3 More States To Its Excluded Markets
RealPrize exits Louisiana, Delaware, and New Jersey, avoiding legal risks as sweeps casino crackdowns intensify across multiple U.S. states.
Aug 7, 2025 - News
Legal Opinion Requested By Operator Asserts Sweeps Casino Legality In At Least 33 Markets
Legal memo says sweepstakes casino games are likely legal in 33 U.S. jurisdictions — including California. Why?
Aug 6, 2025 - News
MyPrize.us No Longer Active In New Jersey As AB5447's Effective Date Approaches
MyPrize.us exits New Jersey ahead of state sweepstakes ban, joining VGW, Funzpoints, and others pulling games due to Assembly Bill 5447.
Jul 31, 2025 - News
Zula Casino Shuts Down Sweeps Coin Games In 5 States
Zula Casino halts Sweeps Coin games in 5 states starting Aug. 1, 2025, but continues Gold Coin play amid rising scrutiny and market shifts.
Jul 30, 2025 - News
BetMGM CEO: 'We Believe Sweeps Should Be Illegal iGaming'
BetMGM CEO slams sweepstakes casinos as harmful to legal gaming. Will other execs follow as Q2 earnings calls ramp up across the industry?
Jul 29, 2025 - News
Hello Millions, B-Two Operations Sites Adjusting California Sweeps Promo Strategy
B-Two Operations changes California promo strategy for Hello Millions, PlayFame, and Spin Blitz as AB831 advances through the CA legislature.
Jul 25, 2025 - News
Chumba Casino, VGW Sites To Start New Jersey Sweeps Phase-Out On July 29
VGW to start shutting down Sweeps Coins in NJ starting July 29 due to AB5447, but Gold Coin play on Chumba, LuckyLand, and Global Poker stays
Jul 24, 2025 - News
Why VGW Is Better Positioned In NY & NJ Than Other Sweeps Operators — Slightly
VGW will still have a presence in New York and New Jersey — which both recently banned sweeps casinos — thanks to its stake in Jackpot.com.
Jul 22, 2025 - News
2 More Sweeps Casinos Shut Down In New Jersey Ahead Of AB 5447 Becoming Law
Spree and Funzpoints exit New Jersey ahead of a likely sweepstakes casino ban as more operators respond to bill AB 5447’s looming effect.
Jul 21, 2025 - News
Sweeps Casino MegaBonanza Pulls Promo Materials In California
MegaBonanza halts California marketing as AB831 — which could ban sweepstakes casinos and target affiliate partners if passed — progresses.
Jul 21, 2025 - News
California Sweeps Ban Bill To Have Next Hearing Aug. 18
AB831, a bill to ban online sweepstakes casinos in California, faces a key Senate Appropriations hearing on Aug. 18 after summer recess.
Jul 20, 2025 - News
Trump's New Gambling Loss Deductions Cap 'A Hollow Victory' For Sweeps Casinos
Industry executive discusses how Trump's OBBA helps sweeps sites, most likely states to regulate, and an overlooked hurdle for sweeps gaming.
Jul 14, 2025 - News
Sweeps Games Providers Leaving States Where Cease-And-Desists Have Been Issued
Game providers like Evolution and Pragmatic Play are pulling titles from sweeps casinos in states issuing cease-and-desist letters.
Jul 13, 2025 - News
Chumba Casino, VGW Sites Start Charging Sales Tax: 'Appropriate Time To Take This Action'
"As the legal framework has evolved over time ... it is the appropriate time to take this action," a VGW spokesperson told Sweepsy.
Jul 9, 2025 - News
CA Sweeps Players Have Contacted Lawmakers 20K Times About AB831, Per SGLA Data
VGW is directing California players to an SGLA page where they can contact their local legislators. That's happened nearly 20K times so far.
Jul 7, 2025