Social Casinos in New York: Legal Status & Platform Availability
Last reviewed: June 2026
New York banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos in December 2025. All three major platforms — Stake.us, McLuck, and SpinQuest — have blocked New York players following the passage of S5935A.
Platform availability
| Platform | Accepts players? | Minimum age | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stake.us | No | N/A | Blocked; NY listed as restricted state | Stake.us Help Center |
| McLuck | No | N/A | Blocked; NY in official terms exclusion list | McLuck Terms of Service |
| SpinQuest | No | N/A | Blocked; NY in official sweepstakes rules | SpinQuest Sweepstakes Rules |
What state law says
Senate Bill S5935A, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in December 2025, explicitly prohibits dual-currency sweepstakes casino platforms in New York. The law targets platforms that sell virtual coins and award cash-redeemable prizes through casino-style games, making New York one of the first states to enact a targeted statutory ban on the model.
Prior to the ban, New York Penal Law § 225.00 defined gambling broadly as staking or risking something of value on a contest of chance in which a person could gain or lose. Sweepstakes operators had long relied on the no-purchase-necessary defense to argue their model fell outside this definition. S5935A removed the ambiguity by creating a new explicit prohibition regardless of the AMOE structure.
New York is a high-population state with a large licensed gambling market (sports betting, lottery, and tribal casinos), and state officials had expressed concern that sweepstakes casinos were siphoning revenue from licensed operators and potentially enabling underage gambling.
Recent developments
December 2025 — Governor Hochul signed S5935A. All three major platforms blocked New York access within weeks of the signing.
No platforms are currently serving New York players. No grandfather period or phase-out provision was included in the legislation.
Why all platforms are unavailable
S5935A is a direct statutory prohibition — not a C&D or regulatory opinion that could be contested or ignored. All three platforms exited rather than face legal exposure. New York has a well-resourced AG office with a track record of aggressive consumer protection enforcement, making non-compliance risky.
Sources
- NY S5935A — Bill text (nysenate.gov)
- Stake.us restricted states (updated May 19, 2026)
- McLuck Terms of Service
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. S5935A is in effect — no sweepstakes casino platform may legally serve New York residents. 21+. If gambling is affecting you, call 1-800-522-4700 (NCPG).