What S5935A actually says
S5935A amends New York's penal law to prohibit operating, promoting or profiting from online "sweepstakes games" that use a dual-currency mechanic and offer cash or cash-equivalent prize redemption. The bill is structured around three operative provisions:
- Operator prohibition. Operating any qualifying online sweepstakes is a class-E felony if undertaken knowingly and in significant volume.
- Supplier and processor prohibition. Payment processors, geolocation service providers, content suppliers (game studios), advertising networks and platform providers may not knowingly support a banned operation that targets NY residents. Civil penalties of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation apply.
- License consequences. Any entity that holds (or applies for) a NY gaming license loses or is denied that license if found to have engaged in banned sweepstakes activity.
The definition of "sweepstakes game" in the bill is broad — any online game of chance that uses a primary entry currency without redeemable value and a secondary entry currency with redeemable cash or prize value qualifies. The dual-currency mechanic that characterized the U.S. sweeps casino industry — Gold Coins (no value) paired with Sweeps Coins (redeemable) — falls squarely inside the definition.
Timeline: how we got here
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Queens) introduces S5935 in the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. |
| April – May 2025 | Sweepstakes industry trade groups (Social and Promotional Games Association) testify against the bill. Counsel for VGW (Chumba's parent) submits opposition memo. |
| July 2025 | S5935A (amended version) reported out of committee. |
| Sept 2025 | Passes Senate, 49–14. |
| Oct 2025 | Assembly Bill A8403A (companion) passes Assembly, 117–25. |
| Dec 8, 2025 | Governor Kathy Hochul signs S5935A as Chapter 605 of the 2025 Laws of New York. Effective immediately. |
| Dec 12, 2025 | McLuck, Pulsz, SpinBlitz, SpeedSweeps announce NY exit. |
| Dec 15, 2025 | High 5, Wow Vegas, Crown Coins, Hello Millions, Funzpoints announce NY exit. |
| Jan 8, 2026 | Chumba (VGW) announces 30-day NY redemption window then exit. |
| Feb 8, 2026 | Chumba processes final NY redemptions; account access restricted. |
| March – May 2026 | Smaller operators (Jackpota, Funrize, Mega Bonanza) gradually exit; a handful of offshore-affiliated sweeps brands attempt geolocation circumvention. |
| June 2026 (current) | No major U.S.-based sweeps operator accepts NY traffic. NY State Gaming Commission has issued cease-and-desist letters to four offshore-affiliated sweeps sites still attempting NY access. |
Operators that exited New York
| Operator | Parent Company | NY Exit Date | What happened to your account |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLuck | Yellow Social Interactive | Dec 12, 2025 | 30-day redemption window; account closed Jan 12, 2026 |
| Pulsz | Yellow Social Interactive | Dec 12, 2025 | Same as McLuck |
| SpinBlitz | Yellow Social Interactive | Dec 12, 2025 | Same as McLuck |
| SpeedSweeps | Yellow Social Interactive | Dec 12, 2025 | Same as McLuck |
| High 5 Casino | High 5 Games (NYC) | Dec 15, 2025 | 45-day redemption; account closed Jan 29, 2026 |
| Wow Vegas | Beach Sands | Dec 15, 2025 | 30-day redemption; account closed Jan 14, 2026 |
| Crown Coins | Sun Path | Dec 15, 2025 | 30-day redemption; account closed Jan 14, 2026 |
| Hello Millions | Worldsocialgames | Dec 15, 2025 | 21-day redemption; account closed Jan 5, 2026 |
| Funzpoints | Universal Promotion | Dec 16, 2025 | 30-day redemption |
| Chumba Casino | VGW Holdings | Jan 8, 2026 announcement; Feb 8 exit | 30-day redemption |
| LuckyLand Slots | VGW Holdings | Same as Chumba | Same as Chumba |
| Jackpota | Yellow Social Interactive | Apr 2026 | 30-day redemption |
| Mega Bonanza | Spree Interactive | May 2026 | 14-day redemption |
What happened to your sweeps coin balance
Every U.S.-based operator gave existing NY users a redemption window to cash out remaining Sweeps Coin balances at standard thresholds. The exact terms varied:
- Most operators (McLuck, Pulsz, Wow Vegas, etc.): 21–30 day window from announcement, standard minimum redemption ($25–$50 depending on operator), payment via PayPal / ACH / bank wire.
- Chumba: 30-day window from announcement (Jan 8 → Feb 8), $100 minimum redemption maintained throughout.
- High 5: 45-day window — the longest of the group.
Gold Coin balances generally had no cash value and were not redeemable. Operators retired Gold Coin accounts at the close of the redemption window. If you still have an outstanding redemption claim with an exited operator, contact the operator's customer service — most maintained CS for redemption queries through Q1 2026.
If your account had a SC balance you couldn't redeem because of operator non-response or technical issues, the NY Attorney General's consumer-frauds bureau is the appropriate escalation: ag.ny.gov. Lena Ortiz is available to discuss escalation paths if you reach a dead end: [email protected].
Why New York did this
Senator Addabbo framed S5935A as consumer protection. The legislative findings cite three concerns:
- Marketing parity: sweeps casinos marketed to consumers as gambling products while claiming sweepstakes status to avoid licensing and tax obligations.
- Player protection gap: sweeps operators were not subject to the player-protection requirements (deposit limits, GESS self-exclusion) imposed on NY-licensed sportsbooks.
- Tax revenue: NY-licensed gambling pays a 51% gross-gaming-revenue tax on sports betting; sweeps operators paid no NY tax.
Critics of the bill argue that the sweepstakes model is materially different from real-money gambling (consumers don't wager cash on outcomes) and that the law's broad supplier-liability provisions chill legitimate sweepstakes promotions (the same legal structure that powers cereal-box giveaways and grocery-store sweepstakes). That debate continues at the federal level; for now, NY law is what it is.
What's legal in NY now (June 2026)
For real-money online casino-style gameplay, the legal alternative is the parimutuel-powered casino model:
- Horseplay — slots, blackjack, video poker via parimutuel pools. Real cash redemption. NY-legal.
- GiddyUp — slot- and instant-win-style products. $10 minimum deposit.
- Card Crush — poker variants and card games via parimutuel pools.
For mobile sports betting, NY has nine licensed operators — see our sports betting guide. For free play, see our free play page covering legal .net sites and sportsbook signup bonuses.
What's NOT legal in NY now
- Any dual-currency online sweepstakes casino (banned by S5935A).
- Real-money online casino sites licensed elsewhere (e.g., NJ or PA iGaming brands accepting NY residents) — these don't currently accept NY traffic, and shouldn't, but if any do they're operating in violation of NY law.
- Offshore real-money casinos accepting NY players — federally grey, NY-unregulated, no consumer protection. We don't recommend them.
Will the sweepstakes ban be challenged?
As of June 2026, no operator has filed a legal challenge to S5935A in NY courts. Trade group SPGA filed amicus briefs in two states with similar laws (Connecticut and Montana) but has not initiated NY litigation. Analysts give a NY-specific challenge low odds of success given the broad police-power deference courts give state gambling regulation.
Frequently asked questions
Are any sweepstakes casinos still legal in NY?
No U.S.-based dual-currency sweepstakes casinos accept NY traffic as of June 2026. A small number of offshore-affiliated sites attempt geolocation circumvention; these are operating in violation of S5935A and we don't recommend them. Legal alternatives are the parimutuel-powered casino platforms (Horseplay, GiddyUp, Card Crush).
Can I still play McLuck / Pulsz / Chumba if I use a VPN?
Technically, perhaps. Practically, no — and we don't recommend trying. Using a VPN to access a sweepstakes operator from NY violates the operator's terms of service (your account will be closed and any balances forfeited when discovered) and circumvents NY law. The operators have invested in geolocation hardening specifically to comply with S5935A.
What happened to my unused Gold Coins?
Gold Coins were not redeemable for cash by design — that's the part of the sweeps model that distinguished GC (no value) from SC (redeemable). When operators exited NY, GC balances were retired without compensation. Only SC balances had cash value, and those went through operator-specific redemption windows.
Are sweeps casinos legal in other states?
Most U.S. states still allow them. As of June 2026, six states have enacted full bans: New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Montana, Nevada. Several others have active legislation. The national trend is restrictive but varies state by state.
Could the sweepstakes ban be reversed?
In theory, yes — the legislature can repeal any law it passes. In practice, the political momentum is strongly in the other direction, and reversal would require a clear federal-court ruling against the model (which has not happened). For the foreseeable future, NY remains a no-sweeps state.
Need help, not just information?
If you played sweepstakes casinos heavily before the ban and you're feeling the absence in a way that worries you, the NY HOPEline (1-877-846-7369) is confidential, free and 24/7. Sweeps brands aimed at habit formation, and habit doesn't disappear when the product does. Our responsible gambling page lists resources, tools and self-management options.