Sweepstakes casinos are legal to play in most US states, but not all of them. As of October 2026, our records show 13 states closed to sweepstakes casinos, by law or in practice: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Washington. Several brands also block extra states on top of these, so the state you live in can rule out some sites even where others are open. 21+, no purchase necessary, void where prohibited, not available in all states.
The short answer
- If you live in one of the 13 closed states above, do not sign up for a sweepstakes casino.
- If you live elsewhere, most brands will accept you, but check each site's own excluded-states list before you register.
- Some brands exclude states like Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland and West Virginia even though they are not on our closed list.
- The operator's terms are what count for your account. A state missing from a brand's list is not permission to play there.
For the full state-by-state picture, see our page on where sweepstakes casinos are legal.
Why sweepstakes casinos can operate legally
A sweepstakes casino is a social casino built on a promotional sweepstakes model. You play with two currencies:
- Gold Coins (some brands use their own name, like WOW Coins or Crown Coins) are for entertainment only. They have no prize value. You can buy more in coin packages.
- Sweeps Coins are the sweepstakes entries. You get them at no cost through signup offers, daily bonuses and other free entry methods, or as a bonus included with a Gold Coin purchase. Sweeps Coins won in play can be redeemed for prizes such as gift cards or cash once you meet the brand's minimum.
The key point is that no purchase is necessary to get Sweeps Coins. You are buying Gold Coins, and the Sweeps Coins come with them as a promotional bonus. That structure is what lets these sites run as sweepstakes rather than as gambling. Some states have decided the model does not fit their rules, or have acted against it in practice, which is why the closed list exists. Our explainer on how sweepstakes casinos work covers the coin system in more detail.
States closed to sweepstakes casinos (October 2026)
This is our current list of states closed by law or in practice. We update it as brands change their terms and states act.
| State | Status |
|---|---|
| California (CA) | Closed |
| Connecticut (CT) | Closed |
| Idaho (ID) | Closed |
| Indiana (IN) | Closed |
| Louisiana (LA) | Closed |
| Maine (ME) | Closed |
| Michigan (MI) | Closed |
| Montana (MT) | Closed |
| Nevada (NV) | Closed |
| New Jersey (NJ) | Closed |
| New York (NY) | Closed |
| Tennessee (TN) | Closed |
| Washington (WA) | Closed |
We do not list a state as closed unless our records support it. If your state is not here, that does not mean every brand accepts you. It means you need to check the brand.
Brands exclude more states than the closed list
Each operator sets its own eligibility rules. Some go well past the 13 closed states. Below is what each brand names in its own material, as verified on October 20, 2026. Where a brand does not name excluded states, we say so. That does not mean it accepts players from closed states.
| Brand | States the operator names as excluded | Named states outside our closed list |
|---|---|---|
| McLuck | CA, CT, DE, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, TN, WA, WV | DE, KY, MD, WV |
| HelloMillions | CT, DE, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, TN, WA, WV | DE, KY, MD, WV |
| WOW Vegas | MD, NJ, MI, MT, LA, CT, NY, TN, IL, CA, ID, NV, WA | IL, MD |
| High 5 Casino | AZ, CA, CT, DE, ID, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, OK, PA, RI, TN, WA, WV | AZ, DE, IA, KY, MD, OK, PA, RI, WV |
| Stake.us | WA, NY, NV, ID, KY, MI, VT, IN, ME | KY, VT |
| Pulsz | CA, CT, LA, MD, AL, NJ, TN, AZ | AL, AZ, MD |
| RealPrize | CA, CT, ID, MI, MT, NV, NY, WA | None |
| Crown Coins Casino | CA, ID, LA, MI, MT, NV, WA | None |
| LoneStar Casino | None named | Not published |
| Chumba Casino | None named | Not published |
| Legendz | None named | Not published |
| Jackpota | None named | Not published |
What the table tells you
- High 5 Casino is the most restrictive in our records, naming 22 states. If you live in Arizona, Iowa, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania or Rhode Island, it is off the table even though those states are not on our closed list.
- Maryland is the most common extra exclusion. McLuck, HelloMillions, WOW Vegas, High 5 and Pulsz all name it.
- Delaware, Kentucky and West Virginia are named by McLuck, HelloMillions and High 5. Stake.us also names Kentucky.
- Illinois is named by WOW Vegas. Vermont is named by Stake.us. Alabama is named by Pulsz.
- Some brand lists are shorter than our closed list. For example, RealPrize, Crown Coins and Pulsz do not name every closed state in the material we hold. Treat our closed list as the floor, not the brand's list.
How to check your state before you sign up
- Check our closed list. If your state is on it, stop there.
- Open the brand's terms or sweepstakes rules. Look for the eligibility or excluded-territories section. This is the list that applies to your account.
- Compare against the table above. If a brand names your state, skip it.
- Check the age rule. We cover brands for players 21+.
- Read the redemption section before you play. Note the minimum Sweeps Coins needed, the payment methods for prizes and any playthrough rule. Redemptions involve identity checks, so sign up with accurate details.
- Recheck if you move. Eligibility is tied to where you are, so a move to a closed state ends your ability to play there.
What open-state players get at the top-rated brands
If your state is open and the brand accepts you, here is what the higher-scoring sites in our rankings offer, from our verified records. Scores come from our published rating method.
- McLuck (7.6/10): 7,500 GC + 2.5 SC at signup with no purchase. Gift card redemptions in 48 hours from 10 SC, cash in 10 days from 75 SC. Excludes 17 states.
- HelloMillions (7.3/10): 2.5 SC + 15,000 GC at signup after verification, no promo code. Redemptions take a few business days, from 10 SC for gift cards and 75 SC for cash. Excludes 16 states.
- WOW Vegas (7.1/10): 250,000 WOW Coins + 5 SC credited over the first three days with no purchase. Cash redemptions from 100 SC, gift cards from 25 SC, up to 5 business days. Excludes 13 states.
- LoneStar Casino (7/10): 100,000 GC + 2.5 SC at signup, plus a daily bonus of 5,000 GC + 0.30 SC. Redemptions in 1 to 3 business days from 45 SC. No excluded states named, so apply our closed list.
For the full ranking, see the best sweepstakes casinos. If prize speed matters most, check the fastest paying sweepstakes casinos.
Play within limits
Buying Gold Coins costs money, and Sweeps Coin play can lose as well as win. Set a budget before you buy any coin package. Several brands publish tools for this. WOW Vegas lists daily, weekly or monthly spending limits, 24-hour and 7-day breaks, and self-exclusion from 6 months. LoneStar and RealPrize list purchase, play and daily time limits, take-a-break and self-exclusion. Our responsible gaming page lists where to get help.
How we cover this
Rankings are editorial. Operators cannot buy a rank. We earn a commission when you sign up through our links, which does not change our scores. State lists here come from our brand records verified on October 20, 2026, and the closed list reflects our records as of October 2026. Always confirm with the operator's current terms. 21+. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Not available in all states.
Questions
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in the US?
They operate legally in most states using a sweepstakes model where no purchase is necessary to get Sweeps Coins. As of October 2026, our records show 13 states closed by law or in practice: CA, CT, ID, IN, LA, ME, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, TN and WA.
Which states have banned sweepstakes casinos?
Our closed list as of October 2026 is California, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Washington. Individual brands may exclude more states.
My state is not on the closed list. Can I play at every sweepstakes casino?
No. Each brand sets its own excluded states. For example, High 5 Casino names 22 states including Arizona, Iowa, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, and several brands exclude Maryland. Check the brand's terms before you sign up.
If a brand does not list my closed state, can I sign up?
Do not treat a missing state as permission. Some brand lists in our records are shorter than our closed list. If your state is on the closed list, skip sweepstakes casinos.
What is the minimum age for sweepstakes casinos?
We cover sweepstakes casinos for players 21+. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited, not available in all states.