Sweepstakes casinos legality in 2025

Written by Denise Mathey

Denise Mathey

Time2play contributor

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• Gambling SEO expert
• iGaming enthusiast
• Content writing

Denise Mathey is a seasoned iGaming writer with over a decade of experience. She started her career in content creation writing detailed business articles for platforms like Chambers of Commerce, where she guided entrepreneurs through starting business entities in various US states.

Denise’s expertise has also focused heavily on iGaming over the last few years, reviewing online casinos, sportsbooks, and sweepstakes platforms for top iGaming publications. Her passion for simplifying complex gambling laws and betting strategies helps players find the best gaming destinations for a safe and enjoyable betting experience.

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Checked by Paul P.

Sweepstakes casinos in the US have grown in popularity over the years and with good reason. For one, they are available in many states where online casinos are prohibited. 

This page will give you a detailed breakdown of where sweep casinos are legal, so you have a full understanding of where to play and how to sign up to make the most of your sweepstakes gaming experience.

• What are sweeps casinos?
• Sweeps laws
• Legal requirements
• How to check
• Common misconceptions
• Future of sweeps casinos
• FAQs

What are sweepstakes casinos?

Sweepstakes casinos offer a number of casino-style games, like slots, table games, crash games, and even live dealer titles. However, they differ from online casinos because they allow you to play for free using virtual currency like Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC). What’s more, you can redeem your SC winnings for gift cards and cash prizes once you’ve met the redemption requirements.

Sweepstakes laws by state

Sweepstakes casinos operate legally under federal sweepstakes rules, but you now need to check your state’s laws before signing up. Here’s a breakdown of sweepstakes laws by state in 2025:

Legal requirements for sweepstakes participation

Before you start playing at a new sweepstakes casino, you need to know the eligibility requirements. First, you’ll need to be in a state where sweepstakes casinos are legal.

Next, you’ll need to meet state-specific sweepstakes regulations pertaining to legal age requirements, which in most cases is 21 years old. During the sign-up process, you will need to confirm your date of birth, and this is one of the ways the sweepstakes casino verifies your age. Your identity document, which is usually requested during the redemption process, is also required to verify your legal age.

If you’re eligible for Sweeps Coins winnings, you’ll need to submit verification documents, or “know your customer” (KYC) documentation. The documents required are a valid copy of your identity document, proof of address, such as a utility bill, and some sweepstakes sites even require a selfie and a copy of your bank statement.

How to ensure you’re engaging with a legal sweepstakes casino

In order to have a safe and enjoyable sweepstakes gaming experience, you’ll need to ensure that the sweepstakes casino is legit. Here are some important factors to look out for:

Step 1

Look for license information

Sweepstakes casinos do not need a traditional online gaming license since they operate under the sweepstakes model, which abides under US. sweepstakes laws. That said, there are lots of sweepstakes sites that are indeed licensed. So before signing up, make your way down to the website footer and look for licensing and regulation information. If it’s there, then it simply adds more credibility to the sweeps site.

Step 2

Read the terms and conditions

Reading the terms and conditions will give you insight into the sweepstakes casino’s age limits, and geographical restrictions, as well as how gift cards and cash prizes are distributed. If the terms and conditions are easy to find, detailed, and spell everything out clearly, this is a clear indication of a legal sweepstakes platform.

Step 3

Verification of contact details

A legitimate sweepstakes site lists its physical address, email, and phone number. In some cases, a direct phone line may not be available, and this is not an indication that a sweeps casino is illegal. A direct phone contact simply adds to the credibility of the platform.

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Step 4

Read user reviews

By making your way through to sites like Trustpilot and Reddit, you can read through existing player reviews. This casino should have more positive reviews than negative ones. Having negative reviews does not make the casino illegal; however, if players are experiencing the same types of issues, like delays on redemptions, then it could mean the sweeps site is shady and you should avoid it.

Step 5

Check for security measures

Legitimate sweepstakes casinos take precautions to protect their players’ personal and financial information. This includes using measures like Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, two-factor authentication, regular audits, as well as Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption, which protects your passwords.

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Common misconceptions about sweepstakes and gambling laws

Here are some common misconceptions about sweepstakes casinos in the US:

The future of sweepstakes legality in the US

As it stands, Connecticut and Montana have passed bills making sweepstakes casinos illegal statewide. New Jersey is considering a similar stance on sweepstakes casinos; while the bill has been passed by the Senate, it’s awaiting approval from the governor.

That said, the future of sweepstakes casinos in the US may not be as bright as it has been over the previous years; in fact, more states may introduce bills, either restricting or banning sweepstakes casinos altogether.

States like Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania are already discussing new US sweepstakes rules for sweeps sites, and those rules may very well become a reality next year.

The positive side however is that social casinos remain mostly unaffected and legal in all states. While these casinos do not offer the potential of cash prizes, they do allow you to play for fun and without risking your own cash.

Overall, these legislative moves have now motivated existing sweepstakes casinos to implement stronger age checks and use solid location tools to ensure that only players from legal states are allowed to sign up.

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