Where is online gambling legal in the US?
Allow me to start off this guide by discussing where online gambling is legalized in the US. Currently, only 7 states in the US allow its residents to participate in online gambling. These are:
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia (not to be confused by Virginia where online gambling isn’t legalized)
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- Michigan
As you can see, this leaves online casino gaming enthusiasts in many other states barred from playing online. Well, this is where
sweepstakes casinos
come in.
Why are sweepstakes casinos legal in the US?
So, is sweepstakes gambling legal in the US? If so, why? Yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal in a majority of the US. Let’s take a look at the aspects that make them legal, shall we?
Use of virtual currencies instead of real money
The first feature that makes them legal is that they don’t require players to directly deposit money on their sites so they can play games. Instead, players use virtual currencies, that is, Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins to play games. Here’s a brief breakdown of how these virtual currencies work:
Gold Coins
Gold Coins are the primary currency used to play games at sweepstakes casinos. Typically, sweepstakes casino operators offer GC through bonuses and promotions. But, if you want extra Gold Coins, you can purchase additional GC packages available at the sweepstakes casino you’re playing at. It’s important to note that Gold Coins have no monetary value.
Sweepstakes Coins
Sweepstakes Coins are the other currency used by players to play games at sweepstakes casino sites. Unlike Gold Coins, Sweepstakes Coins aren’t purchasable. Instead, these operators offer them as bonuses and promotions, and as a bonus when you purchase a Gold Coin package.
In addition to playing games, Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes or any other prizes available at the sweepstakes casino you’re playing at.
However, it’s important to note that it’s only the Sweeps Coins you’ve won while playing games that can be redeemed for prizes.
No real-money paid at sweepstakes casinos
Also, contrary to real-money casinos, sweepstakes casinos don’t pay actual money directly on their sites.
Normally, players play these games for entertainment using the Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. But, most sweepstakes casinos offer them an opportunity to redeem the Sweeps Coins they’ve won through gameplay for cash prizes after meeting certain conditions like playing through Sweeps Coins a specific amount of times.
Sweepstakes casinos offer casino-style gaming
Unlike traditional online casinos, sweepstakes casino sites essentially offer players casino-style gaming without having to spend any money.
This means people mostly play casino-style games at these sites by using virtual currencies only, with the option of purchasing additional Gold Coin bundles, but note the emphasis on the word “optional”. This is made possible through the GC and SC players obtain from the bonuses and promotions offered at these sweepstakes sites.
Like I mentioned earlier, should you want extra virtual currencies, particularly Gold Coins, you can purchase the Gold Coin packages available at sweepstakes casino sites. And you should also know that Sweeps Coins cannot be purchased in any way or form, although you may receive a small amount of Sweeps Coins as an additional bonus when you purchase an optional Gold Coin package.
Legal aspects of sweepstakes casinos
Sweepstakes casinos operate under specific legal frameworks that differentiate them from traditional online gambling. Here are the key legal aspects to consider:
- Regulatory Compliance:
Sweepstakes casinos comply with federal and state sweepstakes laws, which allow them to operate legally without being classified as gambling establishments.
- No Purchase Necessary:
Many states require that players have a free method of obtaining Sweeps Coins, ensuring that participation is not conditioned on a purchase.
- Alternative Entry Methods:
Sweepstakes casinos often provide mail-in or social media-based methods to receive
free Sweeps Coins.
- Redemption Process:
While Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes, the process involves compliance with sweepstakes laws that dictate how prizes can be awarded.
For further details on legal matters related to sweepstakes and lotteries, you can visit the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in the entire US?
While sweepstakes casinos are legal in a majority of the US, the legality of each sweepstakes casino site varies. So, some sweepstakes casinos will have more restricted states than others.
Below is a table summarizing the legal status of sweepstakes casinos in all US states:
| State | Legal Status |
| Alabama | Partially Legal (Free Play Only) |
| Alaska | Legal |
| Arizona | Illegal |
| Arkansas | Legal |
| California | Legal |
| Colorado | Legal |
| Connecticut | Illegal |
| Delaware | Illegal |
| Florida | Legal |
| Georgia | Partially Legal (Free Play Only) |
| Hawaii | Illegal |
| Idaho | Partially Legal (Free Play Only) |
| Illinois | Legal |
| Indiana | Legal |
| Iowa | Illegal |
| Kansas | Legal |
| Kentucky | Legal |
| Louisiana | Illegal |
| Maine | Legal |
| Maryland | Illegal |
| Massachusetts | Legal |
| Michigan | Illegal |
| Minnesota | Legal |
| Mississippi | Illegal |
| Missouri | Legal |
| Montana | Partially Legal (Free Play Only) |
| Nebraska | Legal |
| Nevada | Illegal |
| New Hampshire | Legal |
| New Jersey | Illegal |
| New Mexico | Legal |
| New York | Legal |
| North Carolina | Partially Legal (Free Play Only) |
| North Dakota | Legal |
| Ohio | Legal |
| Oklahoma | Legal |
| Oregon | Legal |
| Pennsylvania | Illegal |
| Rhode Island | Illegal |
| South Carolina | Partially Legal (Free Play Only) |
| South Dakota | Legal |
| Tennessee | Legal |
| Texas | Partially Legal (Free Play Only) |
| Utah | Illegal |
| Vermont | Legal |
| Virginia | Illegal |
| Washington | Illegal |
| West Virginia | Illegal |
| Wisconsin | Legal |
| Wyoming | Legal |
Our choices for the best sweepstakes casinos
Now that we’ve looked into why sweepstakes casinos are legal in most of the US, here are our recommendations for the best sweepstakes casinos to try.
Stake.us - our overall best sweepstakes casino
Stake.us: Pros & Cons
- 1200+ casino-style games
- Safe and legit
- Cool promo deals
- Live chat support
Stake.us has topped the charts as one of the top
social casinos
as it offers a comprehensive gaming experience.
One of the reasons Stake.us is preferred by most players, is its vast game collection. The site has over 1,200 casino-style games, ranging from slots to instant-win games, live table games, and scratch card games. You surely cannot miss something new to try each time you log into this sweepstakes casino.
Stake.us has also prioritized quality when it comes to casino games since you can find some top-brands here, including Hacksaw Gaming, BGaming, and more. What’s more, there are also in-house games known as “Stake Originals” whose quality is just as top-notch.
Another area where Stake.us really shines, is the bonus and promotion offers. This operator goes all out and offers its players generous bonuses and promotions providing lots of Gold Coins and Stake Cash. You’ll especially like its welcome bonus of 260,000 Gold Coins, 55 Stake Cash, and a 5% rakeback bonus that you can get when you use our code PROMOBOY during sign-up.
Stake.us is currently legal in 38 states across the US.
McLuck - another solid sweepstakes casino
Pros and cons of McLuck
- Great selection of jackpot slots, including the McJackpot progressive jackpots
- Excellent mobile app for both iOS and Android devices
- Over 700 online slots from popular providers like NetEnt
- Live dealer games available
- Claim referral bonus of up to 100 SC
- High redemption threshold of 100 SC
- Limited table game options
Next up, we have McLuck, another relatively
new sweepstakes casino
site offering a great gaming experience.
McLuck also has an impressive casino game collection with over 800 casino games. Most of the games here are
free slots (that offer real money prizes), so if you’re a slot fan, you’ll love it here. The site also has a couple of live dealer table games and Slingo games.
Like Stake.us, McLuck has partnered with top-rated game providers, including the likes of BGaming, Play tech, and Habanero to offer top-tier quality games.
McLuck offers some pretty decent bonuses and promotions. When you join this sweepstakes casino you get 7,500 GC and 2.5 SC when you use our code .
McLuck is currently legal to operate in 38 states in the US.
Real Prize - an equally decent sweepstakes casino
Pros and cons of RealPrize
- Excellent Daily login bonus of 5,000 GC and 0.30 SC
- Fast gift card redemptions often within 24 hours
- Quality sweepstakes casino games from top providers like NetEnt
- Seven-tier VIP program with increasing rewards
- PayPal supported for purchases and redemptions
- Small game library of only 200+ titles
- Live chat support limited to higher VIP tiers
- No dedicated sweepstakes casino app
Finally, we have Real Prize. This is one of the new sweepstakes casino sites offering a decent gaming experience. This operator offers over 300 games, which is a bit less. However, it does have an impressive range of casino game options. Players get to choose from slots, live dealer table games, scratch card games, and bingo games.
Real Prize seems to prioritize quality over quantity as it has partnered with reputable game providers, like Relax Gaming, Booming Games, and NetEnt Gaming to offer top-tier quality games.
Real Prize is one of the sites with the most generous
sweepstakes casino no-deposit bonuses, especially for new players. When you join this sweepstakes casino, you'll get a nice offer of 100,000 GC and 2 SC.
Real Prize currently has the go-ahead to operate in 45 US states.
Here's a summary of the sweepstakes casinos we've just reviewed.
| Best sweepstakes casino |
Number of games |
Welcome bonus
|
| Stake.us |
1,200+ |
260,000 GC, 55 Stake Cash, and a 5% rakeback bonus when use our PROMOBOY during sign-up |
| McLuck |
800+ |
7,500 GC and 2.5 SC when you use our code No promo code required! during sign-up |
| Real Prize |
300+ |
100,000 GC and 2 SC |
Factors to keep in mind when selecting a sweepstakes casino
Before we conclude, here are some factors you may want to consider when choosing the right sweepstakes casino for you.
🎲 The selection of casino games
When choosing a sweepstakes casino to join, it’s important to find out about its game collection. It’s best to opt for a site that offers a good number of games. Secondly, find out about the range of casino game options. How many types of casino games does the site have? Has the sweepstakes casino operator focused on offering much of one type of casino game?
🎁 The bonus and promotion offers
It’s also crucial to check out a sweepstakes casino’s bonuses and promotions. You want a sweepstakes casino that offers a great selection of generous bonuses and promotions.
It’s also essential to check a sweepstakes casino’s level of security before joining. Find out if it has security features, like SSL encryption that will protect the confidential information you share on the site.
What are people saying about the sweepstakes casino you want to join? It’s also important to read the user reviews about a particular sweepstakes site before joining. To find these reviews, just search the name of the sweepstakes casino online and you’ll unbiased reviews about it.
Casino gaming made possible thanks to sweepstakes casinos
That’s all for this guide on whether sweepstakes casinos are legal. Sweepstakes casino sites are the excellent legal alternative for casino-game enthusiasts in states where online gambling is restricted, to be able to play casino-style games.
With various bonus offers and promotions, players can also get started fairly quickly and the best part is that due to the virtual currency system at social casinos, the use of real money is not needed at all. Just remember to check whether a sweepstakes casino is legal in your state before joining.
Our favourite sweepstakes casino bonuses for 2026
1.
Get 200% More Coins on First Purchase - 1.5M CC + 75 SC
Playthrough: 1x Bonus
2.
200% Extra: 300,000 Gold Coins + 30 SC
3.
25 Stake Cash + 560K Gold Coins + 3.5% Rakeback
Playthrough: 3x
4.
150% First Purchase Offer: Up to 600K Gold Coins + 303 SC FREE
5.
100% More Coins: 80,000 GC + 40 FREE SC + 100 Free SC Spins
Are sweepstakes casinos legal?- FAQs
🎰 Can I play at sweepstakes casinos in the US?
Yes, you can play at sweepstakes casinos from practically anywhere in the US. However, keep in mind that every sweepstakes casino site is restricted in a couple of states.
✅ Are sweepstakes casinos legit?
Absolutely! Sweepstakes casinos are a legit and accepted alternative site where players in states where traditional online gambling is restricted can still play.
💰 Can I win real money on sweepstakes casino sites?
No, you cannot win real money on sweepstakes casino sites. However, you have the chance to win Sweepstakes Coins through gameplay and redeem them for cash prizes.
Daily picks from betting experts on odds boosts and casino promos
