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
Fifth Sweepstakes Casino Shuts Down In California
The California sweepstakes casino exit rolls on. A fifth operator has now packed its bags and left the Golden State, bowing out months before the January 1, 2026 deadline that’s sending shockwaves through the industry.
Oct 24, 2025 - News
ACE Casino Now Active In 4 States Where It Previously Wasn't
ACE Casino has reopened in four states, including Tennessee and Georgia, as sweepstakes operators prepare for California's 2026 market exit.
Oct 22, 2025 - News
Ohio Bill Banning Sweeps Casino Likely Off The Table In 2025
Ohio’s 2025 bill to ban sweepstakes casinos and expand iGaming has stalled, with Speaker Huffman and Gov. DeWine opposing gambling growth.
Oct 21, 2025 - News
WOW Vegas Commits To Staying In California Until 2026
WOW Vegas plans to keep operating in California until Dec. 31, 2025 — the last legal day for sweeps casinos before AB831 takes effect.
Oct 21, 2025 - News
High 5 Casino Delays Its Exit Timeline In California
High 5 Casino extends California access to Oct. 20 after Gov. Newsom signs AB831, the law that bans sweepstakes casinos statewide
Oct 15, 2025 - News
Gov. Newsom Signs AB831, Outlawing Sweeps Casinos In CA On Jan. 1, 2026
Gov. Newsom signs AB 831, banning sweepstakes casinos in California. Operators must leave by Jan. 1, 2026, or risk criminal charges
Oct 14, 2025 - News
Sweeps Leaders Claim Anti-Sweeps Push Is Actually An 'Anti-Competitive Push'
Sweeps casino operators push back on 2025 opposition, arguing rivals are weaponizing regulation to stifle competition — not protect players
Oct 13, 2025 - News
NoLimitCoins, 2 Other Sweeps Casinos Lower Minimum Age From 21 To 18
After briefly going 21-plus, NoLimitCoins, Fortune Wheelz, and Tao Fortune now allow 18-plus players again — a notable industry reversal.
Oct 10, 2025 - News
Sweeps Casinos Are Now Officially Illegal In Montana & Connecticut
Montana and Connecticut’s laws banning sweeps casinos took effect Oct. 1. While using different language, both laws achieve the same goal.
Oct 9, 2025 - News
VGW Says Its Average Player Spends $25 Per Week
VGW says average spend is $25 per week at Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker — a key takeaway from the Online Social Games Expo.
Oct 2, 2025 - News
Dara Casino Becomes 4th Sweeps Site To Exit California
We’re up to four publicly known sweepstakes casinos to pull out of California as Gov. Newsom considers his decision on Assembly Bill 831.
Oct 1, 2025 - News
Publishers Clearing House, Now Owned By ARB Interactive, Pledges To Always Pay Winners And Announces New CEO
PCH launches Prize Protection Program under new ARB ownership, guaranteeing all future prizes while appointing Owen O’Donoghue as CEO.
Sep 30, 2025 - News
3rd Sweeps Casino Leaves California As AB831 Awaits Gov. Newsom's Signature
First it was High 5 Casino. Then Carnival Citi. Now the third known sweeps casino has left California surrounding the passage of AB831.
Sep 29, 2025 - News
Sidepot, Fliff's Sweeps Casino, Pulls Out Of Arizona
Sidepot Casino, sister brand of Fliff, has joined other sweepstakes operators in exiting Arizona amid the ADG’s regulatory crackdown.
Sep 25, 2025 - News
With AB831 Passed In CA, SGLA Dedicates Resources To NY Veto Efforts
SGLA rallies New Yorkers to urge Gov. Hochul to veto a sweeps ban, warning that ending sweeps casino games would cost state revenue.
Sep 23, 2025 - News
The Future Of Sweeps Casinos? Expert Thinks They'll Likely 'Follow A Similar Path As DFS 2.0'
Despite bans shrinking the market in 2025, one expert says sweeps casinos won’t vanish and sees a DFS-style future of patchwork state rules.
Sep 22, 2025 - News
Prominent Sweeps Casino Exits California Before Newsom Makes Decision On AB831
Carnival Citi becomes the first sweepstakes casino to exit California after AB831’s passage, as operators brace for a likely statewide ban.
Sep 22, 2025 - News
After Passage Of CA Sweeps Ban, Baba Casino Re-Opens In 6 States
Baba Casino cuts its excluded states from 23 to 17, reopening in Ohio, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Sep 18, 2025 - News
Sweeps Casino Will Shut Down Oct. 1, Citing 'Increasing Regulatory Uncertainty' In The U.S.
Vivaro.us will shut down Oct. 1, 2025, showing smaller operators will feel the worst effects of increased regulatory scrutiny on sweeps.
Sep 17, 2025 - News
Spree Removes Georgia And Alabama From Excluded Markets
Spree reopens in Alabama and Georgia, perhaps eyeing revenue gains as California bans sweeps casinos and operators seek new growth.
Sep 15, 2025