The US sweepstakes casino industry is fast-paced and constantly influenced by emerging state laws. Due to these regulations, there are now more restrictions on states for sweepstakes casinos, making it more important than ever to stay updated.
Fortunately, this is where our monthly tracker comes into play. Regardless of whether you are a new or existing player, our guide will keep you up to date on the recent regulatory changes and steer you towards the right platform. Keep reading as we take you through the operators that have ceased operations in specific states and why it is happening.
Sweepstakes casinos must be permitted to operate in a US state to operate freely. As you know, each US state has varying regulations concerning sweepstakes gaming, and these laws tend to change frequently. This means that while an operator might be legal in a specific state at some point, regulatory shifts could change that. In response, the operator has no choice but to exit the market to avoid long-term problems.
However, there are still a number of reasons a sweepstakes operator might leave a state, all of which are still centered around regulatory factors, such as:
While some of these don’t necessarily mean the operators can no longer operate in the state. Sometimes, the best strategic choice for the operator is to move its operations from the market.
As we mentioned, regulations are always changing across US states. With this in mind, here are some of the most recent exits by operators.
The company responsible for sweepstakes platforms such as Global Poker, LuckyLand Slots, and Chumba Casino halted promotional play and SC redemption in Tennessee early in 2026 due to regulatory issues.
This operator ceased offering its services to players in California on January 1, 2026, due to Assembly Bill 831. It also limited access to players located in Illinois, Arizona, and Virginia.
Carnival Citi ceased operations in Indiana on July 1, 2026, and in Maine on July 14, 2026, respectively, to comply with newly created state laws. The operator also limited operations in Illinois, Hawaii, Vermont, Ohio, and North Dakota.
This sweeps casino stopped offering its services to players from Arizona and California
Stopped operating in California and also restricted access to users in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and West Virginia.
Many of the operators mentioned above left the states in question due to the new legislation described below.
| State | Effective date | Regulatory action |
|---|---|---|
| California | January 1, 2026 | Assembly Bill 831 was signed into law, making the sweepstakes dual-currency model illegal. It also extended legal liability to payment processors, making the crackdown more severe. |
| Tennessee | May 2026 | Senate Bill 2136 passed, making sweepstakes platforms illegal. This caused many operators to pull out of the market to avoid problems in the future |
| Indiana | July 1, 2026 | A new ban came into effect, leaving operators with severe penalties |
| Illinois | Not decided | The Illinois Gaming Board issued cease-and-desist letters to more than 60 operators, with fines as high as $100,000 for each violation |
| Maine | July 14, 2026 | New regulation advanced to place sweepstakes gaming under the category of unlicensed gambling |
If your state is added to the restricted list, the operator’s policies will determine what you do next. In most cases, you’ll receive a notice alongside these changes:
We recommend redeeming your SC winnings available for prizes if you have any available, and check our list of sweepstakes casinos in the US for a platform that is legal in your state.
The sweepstakes casino industry is prone to sudden changes, especially due to new US regulations. This makes it vital to stay up to date with regulatory developments and read your preferred operator’s terms and conditions page.
You can also keep visiting our monthly tracker, which we update with newly restricted states, operator announcements, and market exits. These will help guide you towards finding the right sweepstakes casino when you are ready to register and start playing.
