Pragmatic Play Pulling Games from Sweepstakes Casinos in the United States

^{Well-known Pragmatic Play slots like those pictured above are leaving the sweepstakes casino space in the United States. (Image: courtesy of Pragmatic Play)}

Pragmatic Play, a leading developer of online slots and other games for online gambling sites, has announced that it will no longer provide its games to sweepstakes casinos in the United States.

The news, first reported by Next.io, comes as sweepstakes casinos face increasing scrutiny in the US over their operations in many states. 

Withdrawal Follows ‘Regulatory Developments’ in US Markets

According to a spokesperson for Pragmatic Play, the move was made to refocus its efforts in the United States in response to actions against sweepstakes gambling, where it currently doesn’t have a presence in regulated markets.

“Pragmatic Play has chosen to discontinue licensing its games to sweepstake operators in US States where restrictions were not already in place, in light of regulatory developments and evolving legislation,” a spokesperson for Pragmatic Play told Next.io. “We remain committed to the highest standards of compliance and will continue to engage transparently with regulators.”

The move comes as a flurry of legal and legislative activity has targeted the sweepstakes casino industry. 

In August, a 129-page class action lawsuit was filed in the Northern California District Court against sweepstakes casino operator VGW as well as several vendors who work with the company’s sites. Also in August, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that banned sweepstakes gambling sites in his state.

Other states including Connecticut and Montana have also passed sweepstakes casino bans in 2025, while the industry has narrowly avoided prohibitions in some jurisdictions, including Louisiana. 

Sweepstakes Casinos Face Growing Scrutiny 

The controversy over sweepstakes casinos rests on whether they are gambling operators or should be classified alongside more common sweepstakes offers that are commonly promoted by major companies in other industries.

Sweepstakes casino operators stand firm on their idea that they are simply offering contests like any other sweepstakes, making them a safer alternative to traditional online casinos for consumers. Players can play and win prizes without paying for Sweeps Coins, the common name for the currency that can be redeemed for cash.

But both critics and the California lawsuit itself noted that purchases of Gold Coins, the play money currency at these sites, are always paired with a “free bonus” of Sweeps Coins that accounts for the price of the purchase. In addition, the American Gaming Association, a leading opponent of unregulated sweepstakes gambling, released a survey in August finding that 90 percent of sweepstakes players considered the sites to be gambling. 

Pragmatic Play was founded in 2015 and is currently based out of Gibraltar. The company provides slots, live casino games, sportsbook platforms, and other gambling products to online gaming operators in most major markets worldwide.