Ohio AG Issues Cease-and-Desist Demands to Leading Social Casino Operators

Anne Austin

Editor at Sweeptastic.com

Published on 10 Jun 2026

4 min read

Ohio slots and poker players may be facing Sweepstakes enforcement actions as the Attorney General issues cease-and-desist notices to two major social casinos, Crown Coins Casino and Stake.us. Lawmakers argue that their gaming models conflict with Ohio law.

These state actions are centered on where sweepstakes gaming falls under, and whether they cross the line into illegal gambling. These cease-and-desist demands have left players in Ohio unsure of what might come next. Here, we’ll be going into detail about what the AG claims, the Ohio law cited to have been breached, and what this could mean for players.

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Ohio AG takes action against two leading social casinos: Crown Coins Casino and Stake.us

Crown Coins Casino and Stake.us are two of the best social casinos that have faced lawsuits over claims that both brands are operating against the state’s gambling laws, specifically Ohio Revised Code § 2915.02 and 2915.01. The lawsuit against Crown Coins Casino’s operator, Sunflower Ltd and Sunflower Technology Inc., was filed in August 2025, while that of Stake.us was filed in February 2026. The cease-and-desist orders are more about the sweepstakes casino dual virtual currency systems. A unique, free-play model that makes sweepstakes casinos entirely legal across the US, with a handful of exceptions being California, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Washington.

How do sweepstakes casinos operate?

Before going on, it’s important to understand how sweepstakes casinos operate and the virtual currency system. Sweepstakes casinos are by no means real money gaming sites, and for this reason, virtual currencies called Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins are used for gaming. The names may differ slightly, but these virtual coins are used to play all the games at sweepstakes casinos and no form of real money gaming is allowed. Gold Coins are strictly for fun, while Sweeps Coins or Stake Cash, in the case of Stake.us, are used to play in the sweepstakes mode where Sweeps Coin winnings could be redeemed for actual prizes after certain terms are met.

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What does the Ohio law say?

The Ohio law being cited is the Ohio Revised Code § 2915.02 and it states that no person shall:

“Establish, promote, or operate or knowingly engage in conduct that facilitates any game of chance conducted for profit or any scheme of chance.”

And Ohio Revised Code § 2915.01 has the following definitions.

“Game of chance”: Poker, craps, roulette, slots, or other games where outcome is largely chance‑based.

“Scheme of chance”: Any setup where participants give something of value for a chance to win a prize. Exemptions: Bingo, skill‑based amusement machines, and charitable games under strict conditions

This appears to be the basis for the Attorney General’s cease-and-desist orders. Although sweepstakes casinos aren’t gambling sites or played for the purpose of making something off them.

Conclusion: What can players in the Buckeye State expect?

Ohio is one of the legal states where sweepstakes gaming is allowed, but with recent occurrences such as the stalled House Bill 298 and the Attorney General’s actions, sweepstakes casinos and social gaming as a whole have been under scrutiny.

Will it progress or lead to tighter restrictions? Time will tell. But a ban on sweepstakes casinos and social casino gaming without legalizing regular online casinos will leave players in the Buckeye State with no options. There’s a lot unfolding, and we’ll keep you updated on any new developments.

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