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There is a craze for online gaming in New York, but at the same time some such platforms were also growing which were working outside the rules of law. Now a big action has been taken against them. New York State Attorney General Letitia James has ordered the immediate closure of 26 online sweepstakes casino websites. These sites are accused of promoting illegal gambling.
Game of Virtual Coins: Prize or Money?
These sweepstakes casinos look like a simple game where people play with free coins and win prizes. But the real story is something else.
On these platforms, people buy virtual coins and play casino games like slot games, blackjack, and sports betting. And these coins can also be redeemed for cash or gift cards. According to NY law, if any virtual coin becomes cash and is used in a game of chance, then it comes under the category of gambling, and it is illegal.
Which Websites are in this Crackdown?
The 26 websites that Letitia James has declared illegal include some popular names:
- 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
Everyone has been told to immediately stop selling sweepstakes coins and only offer free-to-play social games. James’ office says that all these platforms immediately complied.
What did James say?
AG Letitia James said:
Online sweepstakes casinos are illegal, dangerous, and can seriously ruin people’s lives,” James declared. “All 26 platforms are ending the sale of sweepstakes coins in New York.”
She also said that none of these websites can claim that these are legal sweepstakes games. “Such games are misleading, not secure, and completely unlawful.”
iGaming is still illegal in New York
Online sports betting is legal in New York and it has become the largest betting market in the country. In the fiscal year 2024-25, betting worth approximately $24 billion was done in NY.
But online slots and casino table games like iGaming are still banned in NY. They are legal only in some states, such as:
- New Jersey
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Connecticut
- West Virginia
- Rhode Island
Also Read: The Real Game: AI’s Role In Online Gambling
