Sweepstakes casinos operate legally under Section 849.094 of the Florida Statutes, but the question is topical at the moment. On August 19, 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed lawsuits against VGW and Stake.us, claiming no sweepstakes casino in Florida was legal.
When Uthmeier filed suit in Hillsborough County Circuit Court (Tampa, Florida), he said sweepstakes casinos constituted gambling while claiming an exception from regulations. VGW, known for sites like LuckyLand Slots, Chumba Casino, and Global Poker, did not exit the state. Neither did Stake.us.
Both plan to defend their case in court, it would seem. As it stands, none of the other major sweepstakes casino operators plan to leave. Thus, residents can play with Sweeps Coins in Florida right now.
Section 849.094 of the Florida Statutes does not mention sweepstakes casinos specifically. Instead, it defines what “game promotions” are. The list includes games of chance, contests, gift enterprises, and sweepstakes.
Under that definition, online sweepstakes casinos have operated as legal enterprises. They claim that a site operating as a sweepstakes casino or social casino fits Florida laws much like traditional sweepstakes do.
Under that interpretation, if McDonald’s sweepstakes or a Coca-Cola contest is legal when you make a purchase, then an online sweepstakes contest with purchases should be legal. In both cases, players can enter without making a purchase, though purchases increase their chances of winning.
Sites like Crown Coins, MyPrize, or McLuck offer free daily giveaways, refer-a-friend promotions, and mail-in requests under their alternative method of entry (AMOE) rules.
At the press conference announcing his lawsuits on August 19, the Florida Attorney General was adamant that AMOE and other arguments are invalid. He pointed to the three elements of gambling under US law: chance, consideration, and a prize.
Uthmeier told media members at his announcement,
“If it looks like a casino, takes real money like a casino, and pays out like a casino, it is a casino.”
According to Uthmeier, sweepstakes casino games are considered games of chance. They involve money staked on the outcomes. They also allow people to redeem Sweepstakes Coins for cash, gift cards, or other prizes.
At the heart of the issue, both in Florida and elsewhere across the United States, is the dual-currency system used at most sweepstakes sites.
One virtual currency is generally called Gold Coins, which have no real-world value and follow a “play for fun” approach. The other currency is called Sweepstakes or Sweeps Coins, and you can redeem it for real-world value.
When you play for Sweeps Coins in Florida, these are redeemable once you meet the terms and conditions. Typically, sites require a 1x playthrough. If you receive 100 SC — usually valued at $100 — then you have to stake $100 in Sweepstakes Coins before you can ask for redemption.
Most sites also have a minimum SC stipulation. This varies wildly, with popular sites having minimum redemption values of 10, 20, 50, or 100 SC. As a general rule, 50 SC or 100 SC is the standard.
Throughout 2025 and 2026, multiple US states have banned dual-currency sweepstakes gambling. New York, Indiana, Louisiana, and Oklahoma have chosen bans. Minnesota and Illinois sent cease-and-desist letters to prominent operators.
Kentucky and Florida now have foregone legislation, court orders, or stern letters and have sued operators directly. Some have speculated that would be the wave of the future.
Neither side disputes that social casinos are legal in Florida. The difference between a social casino and a sweepstakes casino is simple: social gaming sites with casino games are for entertainment only.
Players receive Gold Coins when they register for an account. Like sweepstakes casinos, they receive daily giveaways or can request GC by mail. They can even buy Gold Coins if they run out before their next allotment of coins is released.
They can’t redeem Gold Coins for value. From the start, it’s understood that any purchases are for entertainment value only.
Thus, Florida has no problem with social casino gaming. James Uthmeier does not consider it gambling.
Both houses of the Florida legislature tried to address the situation earlier this year. At the start of the legislative session in January 2026, various lawmakers filed four separate draft bills to ban sweepstakes casinos: HB 189 and HB 591 in the House and SB 1404 and SB 1580 in the Senate.
The wording of each bill differed slightly, while the penalties ranged from fines to seizure of sites and funds. Some even stipulated prosecutions for operators.
When the 2026 legislative season closed on March 13, 2026, all four bills died without a floor vote. Florida’s lawmakers who want to ban sweepstakes casino gambling must wait until 2027 at the earliest.
That’s why the state attorney general’s lawsuits surprise observers, though they are not unprecedented. The key point is that the operators being sued did not exist in the market.
Therefore, Florida residents can legally play at sweepstakes casinos and redeem SC for prizes right now. Chumba Casino and Stake.us both still accept new signups from Florida residents.
So does the rest of the mainline industry. All of them are doubtlessly taking steps to transition to a new business model if VGW and Stake lose the lawsuits. Players should be prepared to wind down their accounts if the judges rule in Florida’s favor.
Florida sweepstakes casino users should monitor the news closely for updates, because the VGW and Stake lawsuits directly affect their gaming future.
