Sweepstakes Casino Operators Were Ordered to Halt in New York
New York State Attorney General Letitia James took the initiative in the fight against sweepstakes casinos last week when her office sent letters to 26 operators that were allegedly operating illegal gaming operations in the state.
New York AG James orders sweepstakes games to halt operations.
Key Facts:
- 26 sweepstakes game operators received cease-and-desist letters from the NY Attorney General
- State lawmakers are considering two pieces of legislation that would prohibit sweepstakes style casino games in New York
- Action by New York comes as New Jersey and other states mull ban on sweepstakes
Just as the state of New York is considering a bill that would ban sweepstakes games, Attorney General Letitia James took swift action last week. Her office issued 26 cease-and-desist letters to gaming operators allegedly offering online casino-style contests in the Empire State.
The 26 operators were ordered to cease operations immediately. As of Monday, June 9, most of the alleged violators have shuttered business in New York. According to the New York Attorney General, the list of operators that received letters includes:
- Chanced
- Chumba
- DingDingDing
- Fliff
- Fortune Coins
- Fortune Wheelz
- Funrize
- FunzCity
- Global Poker
- Golden Hearts Games
- High 5 Casino
- Jackpota
- Luckyland
- McLuck
- Mega Bonanza
- NoLimitCoins
- Play Fame
- RealPrize
- Sidepot
- SpinBlitz
- Sportzino
- SweepSlots
- Sweeptastic
- TaoFortune
- Yay Casino
- Zula Casino
Fliff, High 5 Casino, and Chumba specifically, have operated in several states across the United States, even those like New York that do not have legal online casino gaming. As of June 9, those operators were not available for download in New York.
In a press statement released last week, James touted the effort to sweep sweepstakes casinos out of her state, citing the danger they pose to consumers.
“Online sweepstakes casinos are illegal, dangerous, and can seriously ruin people’s finances. I thank the New York State Gaming Commission and Senator Addabbo for partnering with my office on this issue to protect New Yorkers.” —Letitia James, NY Attorney General, Office of the New York State Attorney General, June 6, 2025
The statement read that the 26 alleged operators were providing “Casino Games and Sports Betting Using Virtual Sweepstakes Coins Exchangeable for Cash and Prizes.”
Sweepstakes casinos allow consumers to play without uploading a funding source. In that way, users are not placing their own funds at risk.
The platforms allow users to play casino games with coins or tokens or some other form of dual-currency that can later be redeemed for rewards or cash prizes. Many states have claimed that such games violate gaming laws, providing online casino gaming without regulation.
Supporters of sweepstakes casinos say a ban on such activity would eliminate any form of sweepstakes game. They also claim their apps do not violate gambling laws because no money is being wagered by consumers, who can play for free without adding a credit or debit card, or a bank account.
New York lawmakers have taken aim at sweepstakes games. Earlier this year, State Senator Joseph Addabbo introduced a bill to ban such gaming apps.
State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner sponsored Assembly Bill 6745 (A6745), which would also prohibit sweepstakes games in New York. That bill recently received a favorable recommendation from a committee in the State Senate.
It serves essentially as a companion bill to Addabbo’s Senate Bill 5935. Either of those bills could be sent to the floor for a vote in this legislative session. James lauded her partners in the state legislature for their support in efforts to rid New York of sweepstakes casinos.
“These so-called sweepstakes casinos not only put individuals at risk of fraud and financial exploitation, but they also create dangerous pathways for gambling addiction, especially among minors. This is not about taking away anyone’s livelihood, it’s about protecting New Yorkers and working toward a safer, regulated online gaming environment for age-appropriate individuals. I commend Attorney General James and her office for their dedication towards protecting our residents and for recognizing the urgent risks posed by these illegal platforms.” Statement from Office of the New York State Attorney General
