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EKG Report Reveals Regulating Sweeps May Unlock New Tax Dollars for California
The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance recently commissioned Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) to project California state tax revenue from sweepstakes casinos. The projections came at approximately $300 million in annual tax revenue from licensing fees and player purchase taxes. This demonstrates the high upside that regulation could have for California. EKG is a prominent consulting firm that specializes in the ...
VGW Exits Canada to Prioritize U.S. Sweepstakes Market Amidst Increased Scrutiny
Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), one of the giants in the sweepstakes industry and the parent company of Chumba Casino and Global Poker, is officially pulling out of Canada this fall. Starting October 23, Canadian players will lose access to both platforms. LuckyLand Slots, the third sweepstakes casino operated by VGW, was already unavailable in Canada. While there’s no regulatory pressure ...
Ohio Class Action Lawsuit Targets Sweepstakes Operator Crown Coins Casino Based on Gambling Losses
On August 22, 2025, a class action lawsuit was filed in Ohio against Sunflower Ltd. & Sunflower Technology, Inc., which operates sweepstakes casinos like Crown Coins Casino. The plaintiff, Kelly McNamara, is representing herself and other affected players, alleging that Crown Coins and iCasino are illegal gambling under Ohio law. The suit seeks damages for gambling losses and a court ...
Betr Launches New Innovative Feature with Skill-Based Games
Betr, a daily fantasy sports picks operator owned by social media influencer and professional boxer Jake Paul, launched a brand new platform called Betr Arcade. This features skill-based games where users compete against their peers rather than the house. Betr Arcade features four games: 21, Fruit Match, Crossout 21, and 5 Across. Below is a brief description of how each ...
DraftKings Prioritizing Responsible Gaming by Removing Credit Cards
DraftKings no longer accepts any credit cards (including Visa and Mastercard) as payment methods for deposits on both U.S. online sportsbooks and casinos. The changes took effect on Monday, August 25, 2025. DraftKings was fined $450,000 by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in July 2025 for processing 1,000+ bets that were funded by credit cards. From February 2023 to 2024, there ...
Caesars Adds $0.25 Fee Per Bet in Illinois After State Tax Increase, Bettors Will Have to Adjust
As of September 1, 2025, Caesars will implement a 25-cent fee on each online wager placed in Illinois, just in time for the start of the NFL season. Parlays will be treated as a single wager within this setup. Caesars is imposing these fees in response to Illinois’ new tax structure, which is modeled on a per-bet basis. In placing ...
Pulsz Follows Behind Thrillz’ Exit in Arizona Following Cease-and-Desist Order
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) issued cease-and-desist orders to sweepstakes casinos Pulsz, Betty Sweeps, Thrillzz, and Fliff on August 15, 2025, declaring that these were unlicensed and illegal gambling operators. In response to this decision, Pulsz has exited the Arizona market. One of the major challenges exposed by Pulsz’s Arizona exit is the lack of consumer protections in the ...
PrizePicks Transitions to Nationwide Peer-to-Peer Daily Fantasy Contests
PrizePicks has completely focused on its peer-to-peer platform as of August 22, 2025. Known as PrizePicks Arena, this style of gameplay has players competing against other users instead of vs. the house. The move comes in response to regulatory pressures. PrizePicks is now focusing on two peer-to-peer contests: PrizePicks Arena and Streaks. PrizePicks Arena is where users enter contests where ...
Fast-Tracked California Bill AB831 Sparks Backlash Over Sweepstakes Casino Ban
California’s Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831), which seeks to ban sweepstakes casinos, is drawing criticism from multiple parties as it quickly moves through the legislature. Tribal leaders and sweepstakes operators have spoken out against the bill. Jason Giles, Executive Director of the National Indian Gaming Association, warned that AB 831 is “moving way too fast for anyone to comprehend,” leaving ...
Los Angeles City Attorney Sues Stake.us & Partners for Illegal Gambling
The Los Angeles City Attorney has filed a lawsuit against sweepstakes operator Stake.us, streaming platform Kick, and game developers Evolution and Hacksaw Gaming, alleging that Stake.us ran an illegal gambling operation with support from the other parties. By naming not only the operator but also its streaming partner and game providers, the Stake.us lawsuit signals an aggressive new enforcement strategy. ...
Sherwood Valley Band Becomes Third Tribe to Reject California Anti-Sweeps Bill
The Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians has become the third California tribe to oppose AB 831, a bill that would ban sweepstakes casinos in the Golden State. Sherwood joins the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation in speaking out against this policy. In its letter to lawmakers, the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians pointed to economic ...
California Anti-Sweeps Bill Advances to Senate
California’s Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831), which seeks to ban dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, has advanced to the full Senate after passing the Senate Appropriations Committee’s suspense file on August 29, 2025. The bill requires a majority approval in both the Senate and Assembly before it reaches Governor Gavin Newsom. AB 831 needs a simple majority of 21 out of 40 ...
Pragmatic Play Pulls the Plug on Supplying Games to U.S. Sweepstakes Casinos
Pragmatic Play has decided to stop supplying its games to U.S. sweepstakes operators. This comes shortly after there was a civil lawsuit against Stake.us in Los Angeles, which also named fellow gaming providers, such as Evolution and Hacksaw Gaming. The company’s exit highlights a growing shift in enforcement strategy: regulators are increasingly targeting content providers, not just operators, as a ...
High 5 Entertainment Faces Setback in California Sweepstakes Casino Case
Sweepstakes casinos are increasingly being targeted in U.S. courts, with new rulings shaping the legal landscape for the industry. In California, High 5 Entertainment recently faced another setback as a San Francisco Superior Court judge denied its motion for arbitration. The decision highlights the heightened scrutiny surrounding sweepstakes casinos and their consumer protections. Judge Anne-Christine Massullo ruled that High 5’s ...
bet365 Becomes Latest Sportsbook to Add Fees on Illinois Bets
bet365 has introduced a 25-cent surcharge on wagers under $10 in Illinois, becoming the latest sportsbook to adjust to the state’s new per-bet tax structure. The fee, which is refunded if a wager is voided or canceled, aligns with similar moves by competitors as operators adapt their pricing models to cover the added costs. After Caesars added a 25-cent charge ...
Playtech Titles Pulled from Chumba Casino Amid California Legal Pressures
Sweepstakes casinos are making changes as legal pressures grow across the U.S. Chumba Casino recently confirmed that games from software provider Playtech are no longer available to players in California, demonstrating the impact of increased regulatory scrutiny on the industry. The Playtech games affected by Chumba Casino’s removal include slots like Tsai Shen’s Gift Fire Blaze, Mega Fire Blaze: Big ...
California Senate Revises Anti-Sweeps Bill Language to Spare State Lottery and Other Legal Promotional Sweepstakes
California lawmakers have advanced Assembly Bill 831 with revised language aimed at explicitly targeting online sweepstakes casinos. The updates clarify that the measure is clearly directed at digital sweepstakes gambling-style platforms while leaving state lottery and marketing sweepstakes untouched. In addition to prohibiting the operation of sweepstakes casinos, the updated language expands liability to include partners of operators that knowingly ...
Skywind Games Pulled From WOW Vegas, Narrowing Sweeps Game Collection
Starting September 5, 2025, WOW Vegas players will lose access to Skywind Games in the latest example of a game provider exiting the U.S. sweepstakes market. This comes as a response to legal pressure across the country, especially in California. Skywind Games made the decision to pull its games from WOW Vegas shortly after Pragmatic Play exited the U.S. market. ...
Dan Patrick’s Re-Election Bid Blocks Texas Sports Betting Progress
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s decision to seek re-election in 2026 has dealt another blow to efforts to legalize sports betting and casinos in the state. Patrick has long opposed gambling expansion. With a good chance at his seat, the chances of reform in the near future appear increasingly unlikely. As Lieutenant Governor, Patrick is effectively the Chief Executive of ...
California Tribes Plan Rally Against AB 831 at Sacramento Capitol
Three California tribes will protest Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831) at the State Capitol in Sacramento. This includes the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, and Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria. AB 831 seeks to ban sweepstakes casinos, an idea that has caused division among California tribes. The tribal protest takes place on Monday, September ...