How sweepstakes casinos are regulated
Sweepstakes (social) casinos operate under a different legal model from real-money online casinos. Players use virtual currencies and a "no purchase necessary" sweepstakes mechanic rather than wagering cash. Because the model sits between gaming and promotions law, the rules vary significantly from state to state — and they are changing quickly.
This page is informational, not legal advice. Operator availability and state law change frequently. Always confirm eligibility in the operator's own official rules before registering. Must be 18+ (21+ where required).
States where we show information only
In the states below, we suppress affiliate offers entirely and publish informational content only. This reflects heightened legal exposure for marketing affiliates — including measures such as California AB-831 and New York S5935 that extend liability to those who promote prohibited offers. Suppression here applies to all brands, regardless of any commercial relationship.
| State | Affiliate offers | Note |
|---|---|---|
| California (CA) | Info only | AB-831 marketing-affiliate liability. |
| New York (NY) | Info only | S5935 marketing-affiliate liability. |
| Montana (MT) | Info only | Restricted market. |
| Connecticut (CT) | Info only | Restricted market. |
| Nevada (NV) | Info only | Restricted market. |
| New Jersey (NJ) | Info only | Restricted market. |
| Louisiana (LA) | Info only | Restricted market. |
| Michigan (MI) | Info only | Restricted market. |
| Idaho (ID) | Info only | Restricted market. |
| Washington (WA) | Info only | Strict online-gaming stance. |
How we enforce this on the site
These rules are not just editorial policy — they are enforced automatically by the website on every request, so visitors in restricted locations are never served an affiliate offer:
- Edge geolocation. Your US state is resolved at the network edge before any offer is rendered.
- Site-wide suppression of all affiliate calls-to-action in the info-only states above, for every operator.
- Per-operator suppression in any additional state where a specific brand is unavailable.
- A single server-side gateway through which all affiliate links pass — the tracking link is only issued after the location check passes.
- Fail-closed default: if your location can't be determined, we show informational content only.
For the full breakdown, see our Affiliate Disclosure.
Per-brand availability
Beyond the statewide rules above, each operator maintains its own list of states it does not serve. So even in a state where sweepstakes play is generally available, a specific brand may be unavailable. Our review and comparison pages automatically reflect both layers — if a brand isn't available where you are, its "Claim" button is replaced with a "not available in your location" note.
Most other states
In the majority of US states, sweepstakes casinos from our reviewed operators are generally available, subject to each brand's own terms and the standard 18+/21+ age requirements. Use our comparison of top sweepstakes casinos to see what's available to you.
Detailed state guides
We are publishing in-depth, individually researched guides for key states gradually rather than as a bulk template — each with that state's specific legal status and the list of available operators. Check back as these roll out.
Play responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, free, confidential help is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER — see our Responsible Gaming page.