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April was packed with developments across the sweepstakes casino landscape. There's a lot to cover, from a major site going rogue and legal actions to failed state bans and a growing trend of enforcement. I’ll break down the key updates for players, affiliates, and industry watchers.
TLDR: a Bite-sized Overview:
- DingDingDing Blacklisted: The casino removed Sweeps Coins and stopped payouts, prompting JustGamblers to add it to the blacklist after player complaints surged.
- Anti-Sweepstakes Casino Bills Fail: Legislative efforts to ban sweepstakes casinos failed in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Maryland, dealing a blow to opponents of the format.
- New Sweepstakes Casino Bans Proposed: Louisiana and Montana filed new anti-sweepstakes casino bills in April. Montana’s SB555 has already passed and is awaiting the governor’s signature.
- No More Slingo Games: Gaming Realms removed Slingo games from all sweepstakes platforms, likely due to regulatory pressures or strategic repositioning.
- Enforcement Actions Rise in CA and AZ: In April, California and Arizona cracked down on sweepstakes casinos, filing lawsuits and cease-and-desist letters against operators.
- New York Exits: RealPrize, Zula, and many other sweepstakes casinos exited New York as lawmakers advanced a bill that could impose steep fines.
- VGW Leaves Delaware: Chumba, LuckyLand, and Global Poker withdrew from Delaware following a long-standing cease-and-desist order issued in 2023.
DingDingDing Blacklisted After Sudden Changes and Blocked Payments
DingDingDing, a sweepstakes casino operated by Living Pixels Studio LLC, was blacklisted by JustGamblers in April after abruptly removing its Sweeps Coins system and halting payouts to both players and partners. The platform quietly transitioned to a social-only model, preventing users from redeeming existing balances. Once praised for its innovative features and crypto support, DingDingDing began showing signs of trouble when VIP perks were scaled back and redemptions delayed. The incident highlights ongoing risks in the unregulated sweepstakes space, with customer support now unresponsive and complaints rising on sites like Trustpilot.
Significant Win for Sweepstakes Industry as Multiple Anti-Sweepstakes Bills Fail
In a significant win for the sweepstakes casino industry, anti-sweepstakes bills failed to pass in three U.S. states during March and early April. Mississippi’s Senate Bill 2510, which would have classified sweepstakes operations as felonies, didn’t pass after lawmakers failed to agree on added language to legalize sports betting. In Arkansas, House Bill 1861 was withdrawn following opposition from top state officials, largely due to its controversial attempt to combine a sweepstakes ban with online gambling legalization. Meanwhile, Maryland’s Senate Bill 0860 passed the Senate but failed to advance before the legislative session ended.
The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) praised the legislative outcomes, calling the bills overly broad and disconnected from public and economic realities. As more legislative sessions approach their end dates, eight other states still have active anti-sweepstakes bills under review, but none have made it into law in 2025.
Legislators in Louisiana and Montana Introduce New Bills to Ban Sweepstakes Casinos
Louisiana and Montana introduced sweeping legislation in April to ban online sweepstakes casinos. Louisiana’s Senate Bill 181, filed by Senator Adam Bass, proposes a broad definition of illegal sweepstakes gambling and would increase fines up to $100,000, with up to five years in prison for violations. The bill also gives state regulators and law enforcement civil enforcement powers typically reserved for the Attorney General. The SPGA responded with strong opposition, criticizing the lack of industry consultation and warning of harm to legitimate businesses.
In Montana, Senate Bill 555 passed through the Senate and House with little resistance and now awaits the governor’s signature. Filed by Senator Vince Ricci, the bill expands the definition of illegal gambling to cover online platforms using any currency, effectively targeting sweepstakes casinos even without naming them directly. The bill includes felony-level penalties and redirects fine revenue to the Montana Department of Justice. While many major operators have exited Montana, the legislation would further solidify the state’s stance against the model.
No More Slingo Games in Sweepstakes Casinos
Slingo games, while relatively uncommon in sweepstakes casinos, are no longer available on any platform. In April, Gaming Realms, the owner of the Slingo brand, quietly removed all Slingo titles from major sweepstakes sites like SpinBlitz, Jackpota, Hello Millions, High 5 Casino, and others. Gaming Realms did not issue a public explanation for the move. Previously available games included Lobstermania Slingo and Deal or No Deal Slingo, which blended slots and bingo mechanics.
Though no official reason was given, the timing has fueled speculation that regulatory pressure may be behind the decision. With anti-sweepstakes legislation advancing in several states and legal challenges increasingly targeting operators and third-party partners, Gaming Realms may be choosing to limit risk exposure. It’s also possible the games underperformed financially, or the company is refocusing efforts on real-money casino markets.
Cease-and-Desist Actions Target Sweepstakes Casinos in Arizona and California
Sweepstakes casinos faced increased legal pressure in April as enforcement actions ramped up in multiple states. In California, popular platform Stake.us was hit with a fresh lawsuit by plaintiff Dennis Boyle, who framed the site as an illegal gambling operation violating state law. Filed in Orange County, the case challenges Stake’s dual-currency model and accuses the platform of exploiting legal loopholes to operate without oversight. Boyle is also pursuing a nearly identical lawsuit against Pulsz, with both cases now sitting in federal court.
Meanwhile, in Arizona, the Department of Gaming issued cease and desist letters to two lesser-known sweepstakes operators, Modo.us and Epic Hunts, labeling them as unlicensed and unregulated gambling enterprises. The regulator warned that such operations pose “significant consumer protection and financial risks” and alleged felony-level criminal activity. This marked a shift for Arizona, which has historically taken a more permissive stance toward sweepstakes sites.
Great Sweepstakes Casino Escape From New York
A growing number of sweepstakes casinos exited New York in March and April as Senate Bill S5935 advanced through the legislature. Operators, including RealPrize, Zula Casino, MyPrize.us, and Fortune Coins, pulled out preemptively, anticipating the bill’s possible enactment. S5935, introduced by Senator Joseph Addabbo, would empower state authorities to issue fines of up to $100,000 to sweepstakes platforms and related service providers. A matching Assembly bill, A6745, is also in motion, and both are designed to take effect immediately if signed into law.
Some operators gave customers little time to react, such as RealPrize, which shut down its New York service a day earlier than initially stated. The departures suggest operators view the legislation as a serious threat, even if no anti-sweepstakes bill has yet passed into law in the U.S. Addabbo, who chairs the Senate’s gaming committee, has also voiced support for legalizing traditional iGaming, raising speculation that the proposed ban may be part of a broader shift toward regulated online casinos in the Empire State.
VGW Exits Delaware After Long-Standing Cease and Desist Order
Sweepstakes operator VGW officially exited Delaware on April 2, marking the end of a two-year standoff with the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker are now unavailable to Delaware residents following a 2023 cease-and-desist letter that VGW initially claimed to be unaware of. In a public statement, Delaware regulators celebrated the move as a win for consumer protection, stating that VGW’s offerings violated state constitutional and regulatory law.