Gambling Executive Expresses Belief That Sweepstakes Casinos Violate Laws
In the ever-evolving world of iGaming, opinions and views on various aspects of the industry are constantly shifting. One such topic that has been under scrutiny is the legality and ethics of sweepstakes casinos.
Richard Janvrin, a seasoned journalist who has covered various aspects of iGaming, including news, reviews, bonuses/promotions, and the legality of sweepstakes casinos, has been at the forefront of this discussion. Janvrin, who began his professional sports coverage in 2015 and graduated from the University of New Hampshire, has been reporting on the industry since 2018.
During the recent second quarter financial call, BetMGM's CEO, Adam Greenblatt, provided his comment regarding sweepstakes casinos. Greenblatt expressed his view that sweepstakes casinos should be considered illegal in the context of iGaming. This statement comes at a time when the second quarter financial call is ongoing, with CEOs and executives for real money gambling platforms potentially sharing their views.
This stance by Greenblatt aligns with the general sentiment among CEOs and executives in the real money gambling industry. These individuals tend to view sweepstakes casinos with skepticism or opposition, largely due to regulatory actions and growing legal challenges that highlight their ambiguous legality and potential violations of state gambling laws.
State regulators and attorneys general have been actively cracking down on sweepstakes casinos. In 2025 alone, enforcement efforts were taken in Michigan, Maryland, Connecticut, New York, Louisiana, and West Virginia. These actions reflect a consensus among official regulators that wagering virtual coins redeemable for cash on chance-based games amounts to gambling, regardless of the operators’ claims to the contrary.
Executives from regulated, real money gambling companies often align with these regulatory views, emphasizing that sweepstakes casinos exploit legal “grey areas” to evade consumer protections and regulatory oversight. For example, the American Gaming Association (AGA), representing the mainstream gambling industry's interests, conveys that sweepstakes casinos "operate outside the law and regulation" and lack responsible gaming tools, posing risks to players.
Furthermore, legislative initiatives such as California’s AB 831, which aims to ban sweepstakes casinos statewide, receive support from industry-aligned lawmakers who argue that sweepstakes casinos undermine tribal gaming sovereignty and established regulated frameworks. This political and regulatory momentum suggests broad opposition from established gambling executives and their allies.
However, sweepstakes casino operators and their advocates assert that because these platforms do not take real-money bets directly and award prizes under sweepstakes or social gaming laws, they should not be classified as gambling sites. This defense, however, is increasingly rejected by regulators and some lawmakers.
As the second quarter financial call progresses, more CEOs and executives for real money gambling platforms could speak out, further shaping the discourse on the legality of sweepstakes casinos in the iGaming industry.
- One possible response from online casino executives during the ongoing financial call could be a display of united opposition towards poker and sports betting within sweepstakes casinos, mirroring the views of BetMGM's CEO, Adam Greenblatt, who considers such activities as illegal in the context of iGaming.
- Despite the arguments by sweepstakes casino operators stating that their platforms operate under sweepstakes or social gaming laws, which exempt them from being classified as gambling sites, the consensus among state regulators, attorneys general, and legislative initiatives like California's AB 831, are moving towards viewing these platforms as a threat to established regulatory frameworks and consumer protections, and thus, illegal.
