Sweepstakes casinos operate legally in most US states — but not all of them. The availability depends on each state’s interpretation of sweepstakes law, and it varies by platform. This guide breaks down where you can play, which states are restricted, and why the rules differ.
Sweepstakes casinos are not classified as gambling because they meet three legal requirements:
This model follows the same legal framework that allows companies like McDonald’s to run Monopoly promotions or Publishers Clearing House to give away prizes. For a deeper explanation, read our guide to how social casinos work.
Sweepstakes casinos are legal and available in the majority of US states. The following states have broad availability across most platforms:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Washington D.C.
Important: Even within available states, individual platforms may have additional restrictions. Always verify directly on the casino’s signup page.
Two states have the broadest restrictions:
Washington state has the most restrictive sweepstakes laws in the country. Most sweepstakes casinos — including Chumba Casino, Pulsz, Rolling Riches, and Wow Vegas — are not available to Washington residents. The state’s internet gambling laws are interpreted broadly enough to cover the sweepstakes model.
Idaho is the second most restricted state. Similar to Washington, the state’s sweepstakes regulations do not align with the model that social casinos use. Most major platforms exclude Idaho from their available states.
Beyond Washington and Idaho, several states are excluded by specific platforms (but not all):
The exact list of restricted states varies by casino. For example, PlayFame restricts 15 states, while Chumba Casino only restricts Washington and Idaho.
| Casino | States Restricted | Age Req |
|---|---|---|
| Chumba Casino | WA, ID | 21+ |
| LuckyLand Slots | WA, ID | 21+ |
| Pulsz | WA, ID + others | 21+ |
| Rolling Riches | ~9 states | 21+ |
| Wow Vegas | ~10 states | 21+ |
| McLuck | ~10 states | 21+ |
| High 5 Casino | WA, ID | 18+ |
| PlayFame | ~15 states | 18+ |
| The Money Factory | WA, ID + others | 18+ |
Social-only casinos like Big Fish Casino and PlayJack are available in all 50 states because they do not offer cash prize redemptions.
Sweepstakes casinos use geolocation technology to verify that you are physically located in an eligible state. This typically works through:
You may be asked to allow location access when you first visit the site or app. If you are located in a restricted state, you will see a message indicating the platform is not available in your area.
Traveling tip: If you normally live in an eligible state but travel to a restricted state, you will not be able to play during your trip. Your account remains active — you can resume playing when you return to an eligible state.
Sweepstakes casinos are different from regulated real-money online casinos. States like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia have legalized real-money online casinos through state-level legislation. These are separate markets with different rules.
Sweepstakes casinos operate under federal sweepstakes law and do not require state-by-state gaming licenses. This is why they are available in far more states than traditional online casinos.
If you live in any state other than Washington or Idaho, you almost certainly have access to multiple sweepstakes casinos. The safest bet is to try Chumba Casino or LuckyLand Slots — both are available in 48 states and have the longest payout track records. For the full ranked list, see our Best Social Casinos.
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