- Legal status
- Banned
- Last verified
- October 28, 2026
The law
- Law
- S 5935-A (Ch. 605, L. 2025)
- Statute
- N.Y. Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 912
- Signed
- December 5, 2025
- Effective date
- December 5, 2025
- Applies to
- operators, as well as applicants, licensed entities, financial institutions, payment processors, geolocation providers, gaming content suppliers, platform providers and media affiliates that support operation or promotion
- Covers affiliates and promoters
- yes
- Penalties
- Fine of $10,000 to $100,000 for each violation. Possible loss of a gaming licence.
- Source
- Official text
What this means for players in New York
Access. 38 of the 38 casinos whose terms we have read exclude New York, either completely or for Sweeps Coins play. If a sweepstakes casino still lets you register from New York, that is a reason for caution, not an opportunity: an operator ignoring the state's position is unlikely to be careful with your prize either.
Who the law is aimed at. Operators, and by name those who support or promote them — which is why this page carries no casino links.
Are players liable? We do not answer that here. The provisions we read are written against those who run or support the games. Whether playing is itself an offence depends on New York's general gambling law, and that is a question for a lawyer, not for a guide.
Coins and pending prizes. There is no single rule. Operators leaving a state usually set a deadline for redeeming Sweeps Coins and then close accounts. The deadline is in the notice the operator sends, not in the law. If you have a balance, redeem it now and keep the confirmation.
Timeline
- December 5, 2025 — S 5935-A (Ch. 605, L. 2025) signed
- December 5, 2025 — S 5935-A (Ch. 605, L. 2025) takes effect
What remains legal
We do not list alternatives on this page. Which forms of gambling are licensed in New York — a lottery, tribal or commercial casinos, sports betting — is a separate question we have not researched to the standard of the rest of this page. What we can say: a site that offers “sweepstakes” or “social” casino play with cash prizes to residents here is not one of them.
Frequently asked questions
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in New York?
No. Since December 5, 2025, S 5935-A (Ch. 605, L. 2025) has made it illegal to run an online sweepstakes casino for players in New York.
Does this page link to sweepstakes casinos?
No. We do not link to or promote sweepstakes casinos on pages for states where they are banned or unavailable.
Sources
A date shows when we last saved a copy of that page.