Legislation · NY· Updated
New York prohibited dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos effective December 5, 2025 when Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill 5935-A / Chapter 605. Unlike California’s January 2026 effective date, New York’s ban took effect immediately upon signing — part of a coordinated 2025–2026 legislative wave that also includes New Jersey, Connecticut, and Montana.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bill | S5935A (2025 session) |
| Signed | December 5, 2025 |
| Effective | Immediately upon signing |
| Authority | NY Penal Law additions |
| Prior enforcement | NY AG cease-and-desist letters (June 2025) |
What S5935A changed
The statute targets the dual-currency online sweepstakes model: platforms where players use Gold Coins for entertainment and Sweeps Coins (or equivalent) obtained through free entry and purchases, then redeem SC for prizes. New York adds criminal penalties for operating such games and explicitly reaches promoters and marketing affiliates — the same structural exposure California addressed in AB-831.
Sweepstakes Wiz therefore treats New York as a site-wide suppressed state: no affiliate bonus CTAs render for NY visitors on any brand page.
Enforcement before the statute
New York’s Attorney General had already signaled hostility to unlicensed online prize-redemption products. In June 2025, the AG issued cease-and-desist letters to 26 operators, warning that dual-currency sweepstakes products operating without New York authorization faced enforcement. The December signing converted that posture into explicit statutory prohibition.
Operator and market impact
Following AG pressure and enactment of S5935A, major dual-currency brands updated terms to geo-block New York. Operators in our review set — including McLuck, Hello Millions, and Playfame — list New York among restricted states. Some single-currency products (e.g., Card Crush, NY/CA-only) are sometimes discussed as alternatives; regulatory treatment remains contested, and we describe them without affiliate promotion in New York.
What New Yorkers can still access
New York maintains a robust licensed mobile sportsbook market, the New York Lottery, and advance-deposit wagering for horse racing through NYRA-approved services. Gold-coin-only social casinos without Sweeps redemption occupy a separate category from the dual-currency products S5935A bans.
For the full New York guide: Are sweepstakes casinos legal in New York?. National map: state legality hub.
Tracker status
Our legality tracker records New York as banned (high confidence), with the enrolled statute as primary source. Export: legality.json.
Informational only — not legal advice. Consult qualified counsel for personal legal questions.
Frequently asked questions
When did New York ban sweepstakes casinos?
Governor Kathy Hochul signed S5935A on December 5, 2025. The law took effect immediately upon signing, making New York one of the first states to enact a statutory dual-currency ban in the 2025–2026 wave.
What does New York S5935A prohibit?
The law adds Penal Law provisions banning online sweepstakes casino games that use two virtual currencies — one for play and one redeemable for prizes or cash equivalents — and extends liability to promoters and marketing affiliates.
Did the New York Attorney General enforce before the ban?
Yes. The NY AG sent cease-and-desist letters to dozens of operators in June 2025, presaging the statutory ban signed later that year.
Can New Yorkers still play on McLuck or Stake.us?
Major dual-currency operators restrict New York in their terms. We do not promote affiliate offers to New York visitors. Attempting to register from a restricted state may violate operator rules.