Immediate Enactment of New Jersey's Anti-Sweepstakes Legislation Signaled
In a significant move to regulate the gambling industry, New Jersey has passed Assembly Bill 5447, effectively banning sweepstakes casinos in the state. The legislation, signed by Governor Phil Murphy, outlaws the use of virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins in casino games that offer redeemable prizes or cash.
The law, which took effect on August 14, 2025, marks a change in the gambling landscape of New Jersey, closing a regulatory loophole that had allowed unlicensed casinos and sportsbooks to operate without oversight. Existing sweepstakes platforms, such as Stake.us, have ceased operations in the state as a result of this ban.
Montana and Connecticut are also among the states that have taken similar measures against sweepstakes casinos. While specific details on legislation in these states are not readily available, they have followed New Jersey's lead in regulating or banning sweepstakes casinos to assert control over gambling activities and close loopholes that allow unregulated or unlicensed gambling under the sweepstakes guise.
The ban on sweepstakes casinos in New Jersey, like those in other states, aims to eliminate platforms offering casino games for prizes that resemble gambling without a real-money license. This trend is a response to the growing use of virtual currencies and the internet to circumvent traditional gambling laws.
Richard Janvrin, an expert in the field of sweepstakes casinos, has covered numerous aspects of iGaming, including news, reviews, bonuses/promotions, and legal issues. He began writing as a teenager and entered the iGaming space in 2018. Janvrin graduated from the University of New Hampshire and started his professional career in sports coverage in 2015.
The signing of Assembly Bill 5447 into law is part of New Jersey's updated gambling legislation, reflecting a commitment to maintaining a fair and regulated gambling environment. As more states consider similar measures, the landscape of online gambling is likely to continue evolving.
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- In the midst of this crackdown on sweepstakes casinos, online platforms offering poker games find themselves under increased scrutiny due to their reliance on virtual currencies, as demonstrated by the policy-and-legislation changes in New Jersey and other states.
- Despite the ban on sweepstakes casinos in New Jersey, the debate on the politics of online gambling continues, as advocates argue for a fair and regulated gaming environment, while critics fear government interference in general-news outlets, with Richard Janvrin's work providing thoughtful perspectives on this ongoing debate.
