Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill 5935-A (S5935A) into law on December 8, 2025, creating a categorical ban on online "sweepstakes" casinos in New York. The law took effect immediately.
Sweepstakes casinos use a dual-currency model — a free "play" coin alongside a redeemable "sweeps" coin — to offer casino-style games without holding a gambling license. S5935A prohibits operating, conducting or promoting these platforms in New York, and notably extends liability to the businesses that support them, including payment processors, geolocation providers, content suppliers and media affiliates. Violations carry fines of $10,000 to $100,000 each.
Operators Were Already Leaving
The market had begun exiting ahead of the signature. VGW — operator of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker — announced in May 2025 that it would shut down sweeps-coin play in New York. Hochul's signature made New York the sixth state to enact some form of sweepstakes-casino prohibition in 2025.
What It Means for New York Players
Sweepstakes sites are no longer a legal option in New York. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr., is separate from the state's stalled effort to legalize licensed online casino gaming; New York still has no regulated iGaming.