Survey Questions Integrity of Casinos Operating Sweepstakes
Published on August 07, 2025, in the legal category, the report produced by Richard Janvrin, a well-known figure in the iGaming space, presents a compelling case against the argument that sweepstakes casinos are merely entertainment or social games.
The report, published by the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGA), aims to debunk common myths about sweepstakes casino player behavior. According to the report, an astounding 90% of players consider playing on these platforms to be gambling, with 59% stating it is "definitely gambling" and 31% claiming it is "probably gambling" [1][2].
The report further reveals that 68% of players' primary goal in playing sweepstakes casinos is to win real money, and 69% describe these platforms as places to wager real money [1][3][4]. These findings challenge the notion that sweepstakes casinos are not gambling or that players do not treat them as real-money wagering platforms.
The spending habits and demographics of sweepstakes casino players closely resemble those of real-money online gambling users, further challenging the idea that sweepstakes casinos are merely entertainment [2]. The majority of consumers strongly dispute the industry's portrayal of sweepstakes casinos as non-gambling entertainment, which has influenced regulatory scrutiny and crackdowns in states like New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut [1][3][4].
The AGA uses these findings to assert that sweepstakes casinos exploit legal loopholes, undermine the integrity of regulated gaming markets, and operate largely unregulated, posing risks especially to younger consumers. This has led to calls for stronger regulation and enforcement actions [3][4].
Interestingly, the report states that sweepstakes platforms heavily target players with advertising, mainly on platforms like YouTube and Reddit, different from how licensed gambling operators allocate their ad budgets [2].
Richard Janvrin, the author of the report, entered the iGaming space in 2018 and has covered numerous aspects of it, including news, reviews, bonuses/promotions, sweepstakes casinos, and legal issues. He started writing as a teenager and broke into sports coverage professionally in 2015. Janvrin graduated from the University of New Hampshire.
The report was accompanied by a photo, taken by CCNull, and is licensed under CC BY 2.0 DE. Federal action on sweepstakes casinos is considered unlikely.
[1] AGA Report: Myths about Sweepstakes Casino Player Behavior [2] AGA Survey: Sweepstakes Casinos and Real-Money Wagering [3] AGA Statement: Regulation of Sweepstakes Casinos [4] AGA Calls for Stronger Enforcement against Sweepstakes Casinos
The report published by Richard Janvrin, an expert in the iGaming space, reveals that the majority of sweepstakes casino players consider their activity as gambling and aim to win real money, challenging the notion that these platforms are merely social games or entertainment. The AGA asserts that such casinos exploit legal loopholes, undermine regulated gaming markets, and operate largely unregulated.
In an effort to debunk common myths, the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers' report sheds light on the similarities between sweepstakes casino players and real-money online gambling users, further emphasizing that these platforms are not mere entertainment. Additionally, the report indicates that sweepstakes casinos heavily target players with advertising, significantly different from licensed gambling operators' advertising strategies.
