August proved to be a month of notable developments in the sweepstakes casino sector, with a slowdown in exits compared to the previous months. While many operators had already exited states like Indiana, Maine, and Iowa in June and July, the month brought new restrictions in Oklahoma, set to take effect on November 1.
Florida emerged as a focal point for enforcement actions, with the state launching significant legal actions against Stake.us and VGW, along with their payment processors. This crackdown led to several platforms either shutting down or beginning the process of winding down operations.
In terms of state availability, August was relatively stable. Indiana’s prohibition on sweepstakes casinos took effect on July 1, followed by similar measures in Maine and Louisiana. As a result, few operators made further adjustments in August.
Some notable changes included:
- AceBet added Oklahoma as a Gold Coin-only jurisdiction.
- LoneStar Casino and RealPrize designated Delaware as a Gold Coin-only jurisdiction.
- Sixty6 and Sweeps Jungle restricted operations in Maine.
- SpinQuest and SweepsUSA added Tennessee to their restricted states.
- Cluck Casino made significant changes, restricting access in multiple states including Alabama, Florida, and West Virginia.
On the other hand, Jefebet reopened access in Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, and Utah after removing them from its restricted territories. Additionally, 3 Oaks Gaming, known for titles like Coin Up Hot Fire and Big Heist, withdrew from Iowa.
August also witnessed a wave of platform closures. The Money Factory ceased operations on August 9, halting all player activities while preserving account information. LuckyStake ended gameplay on August 14, allowing customers to submit redemption requests until August 20, with full access terminating on August 21.
CoinFrenzy began a phased closure, stopping purchases on August 10 and allowing gameplay until a revised closure date of September 7. VGW also continued the phased closure of LuckyLand Slots, with gameplay ceasing on August 24.
Florida's enforcement action is particularly significant, as Attorney General James Uthmeier filed lawsuits against Stake and VGW, claiming their operations violate Florida law. These lawsuits also target payment processors, adding weight to the state's crackdown on illegal online gambling.