New York Bans Sweepstakes Casinos as More US States Follow Suit
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the legislation into law last week, following its passage earlier this year.
Regulators and lawmakers across the US are stepping up efforts to outlaw dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, with New York becoming the latest state to impose a formal ban.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the legislation into law last week, following its passage earlier this year. The move formalises regulatory action already taken in the summer, when many operators exited the state after receiving cease-and-desist letters from Attorney General Letitia James.
According to a study by Eilers & Krejcik for the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, sweepstakes casinos generated an estimated $10bn in sales in 2024, with New York alone accounting for around $762m of that total.
Other states are now following New York’s lead. Lawmakers in Florida, Indiana and Maine introduced similar prohibition bills this month, while California, Connecticut, Montana, Nevada and New Jersey have already passed restrictive measures. Regulators continue to argue that sweepstakes casinos operate as unregulated gambling, prompting an expanding wave of enforcement across the country.
