Delaware regulators have taken action against two more sweepstakes casino operators, forcing RealPrize and LoneStar Casino to end their Sweeps Coins offerings in the state. The move follows cease-and-desist letters issued by the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) in mid-August. It marks another step in the state’s ongoing effort to remove unlicensed sweepstakes gaming platforms.
Both casinos are operated by RealPlay Tech Inc. and informed players that Sweeps Coins play would no longer be available in Delaware beginning Aug. 21. The decision affects all Delaware-based accounts, whether newly created or already active.
The enforcement action highlights Delaware’s increasingly aggressive approach toward sweepstakes casinos. While several states have introduced legislation targeting the industry, Delaware has largely relied on existing gaming laws and regulatory authority rather than passing new restrictions.
The biggest change involves the removal of Sweeps Coins functionality for Delaware users. Players can no longer earn, receive, collect, or use Sweeps Coins through promotions, bonuses, purchases, or alternative methods of entry.
Gold Coins gameplay, which is typically used for free-play entertainment and cannot be redeemed for prizes, remains available. This means Delaware customers may still access certain aspects of the platforms, but the prize-linked component that distinguishes sweepstakes casinos is no longer permitted.
Players who still hold Sweeps Coins balances have a limited window to redeem them. Operators have stated that redemption requests must be submitted by Sept. 21, 2026. Any remaining balances must be withdrawn before Sept. 22, after which redemption access for Delaware accounts will end.
The deadline is significant because sweepstakes operators generally do not extend redemption windows after a regulator has ordered them to stop operating in a jurisdiction. Players who wait too long risk losing access to remaining balances.
Unlike states such as Indiana, Louisiana, and Maine, which have pursued legislative solutions to address sweepstakes casinos, Delaware has relied on enforcement of laws already on the books.
State officials have pointed to provisions within the Delaware Constitution, state criminal statutes, and the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012. Delaware already has a regulated online casino market tied to its lottery system, giving regulators a framework for determining which operators are authorized to offer internet gaming products.
From the DGE’s perspective, sweepstakes casinos that offer dual-currency systems and prize redemption opportunities may fall outside the state’s approved gaming structure if they are not licensed.
This strategy allows regulators to remove operators through enforcement actions rather than waiting for lawmakers to adopt new legislation. Similar approaches have been seen in other states where gaming regulators have pursued cease-and-desist campaigns against sweepstakes casino companies.
The latest action is not Delaware’s first move against the sweepstakes casino sector. State regulators previously targeted other operators, including brands associated with VGW, which exited the market after earlier enforcement efforts.
The departures of RealPrize and LoneStar Casino add to a growing list of operators that have either restricted access or completely withdrawn from Delaware. The trend reflects increasing scrutiny of sweepstakes gaming models as regulators across the country continue evaluating whether the platforms comply with existing gambling laws.
For players and operators alike, Delaware’s latest enforcement action serves as another reminder that regulators do not necessarily need new legislation to reshape the sweepstakes casino landscape. As more states examine the industry, similar regulatory actions could continue to influence where and how these platforms operate.
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