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Tennessee AG Orders Sweepstakes Casinos to Disable Sweeps Play
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says his office has issued cease-and-desist letters to almost forty online sweepstakes casinos that it alleges were operating illegally in the state. The announcement came in a December 29, 2025 press release and helps explain why multiple major sweepstakes brands began pulling out of Tennessee in recent weeks.
According to the AG’s statement, recipients have either already disabled the “illegal elements” of their operations or agreed to do so on a date in the near future.
What Tennessee Announced - and Why It Matters
Players first noticed a shift in November 2025, when several well-known sweepstakes casino operators withdrew from Tennessee without offering a detailed public explanation. The state’s latest move clarifies the likely driver: enforcement action coming directly from the Attorney General’s office.
The Tennessee AG’s approach mirrors a broader pattern seen across the U.S., where state officials have increasingly challenged sweepstakes-style casino models through legal opinions, subpoenas, and cease-and-desist letters.
How Tennessee frames the issue
Tennessee’s gambling law definition is central to the dispute. The source cites Tennessee Code Title 39. Criminal Offenses § 39-17-501, which defines gambling as risking anything of value for profit where the return is contingent on chance, including games associated with casinos.
Sweepstakes casinos commonly argue their promotional currencies have no inherent value, even though many platforms allow eligible users to redeem certain sweepstakes-style tokens for cash prizes. Tennessee’s Attorney General is signaling that the state views key parts of this model as unlawful.
Which Brands Were Named in the AG’s Compliance List
The Attorney General’s press release included a list of sweepstakes casinos that, according to Skrmetti, received letters and “indicated their intent to comply”. The list contains many recognizable platforms used by U.S. sweepstakes players, though the source notes it is not comprehensive.
- American Luck
- Cazino
- Chanced
- Chumba
- Crown Coins Casino
- Fortune Coins
- Fortune Wheelz
- Funrize
- FunzCity
- Global Poker
- Golden Hearts Games
- Hello Millions
- High 5 Casino
- iCasino (noted in the source as shut down)
- Jackpota
- Legendz
- LoneStar
- Luckyland
- McLuck
- Mega Bonanza
- MegaFrenzy
- Modo
- Moonspin
- NoLimitCoins
- PlayFame
- Punt
- RealPrize
- Rolla
- SpinBlitz
- Sportzino
- Spree Social Casino
- Stake.us
- StormRush
- Tao Fortune
- The Money Factory
- WOW Vegas
- Yay Casino
- Zula Casino
Not every change looks the same
The source notes that some larger operators did not necessarily shut down entirely. Instead, certain brands reportedly removed the option for sweepstakes-style promotional play in Tennessee - often tied to “Sweeps” currency - while leaving free-play modes available (commonly associated with “Gold Coins”).
For players, this distinction matters because free-play access may remain even when prize-redemption gameplay is restricted.
How This Fits Into the Wider U.S. Enforcement Trend
Tennessee is not acting in isolation. The source points to similar pressure in other states during 2025, including cease-and-desist tactics used by New York’s Attorney General earlier in the year and additional actions elsewhere.
Tennessee’s earlier sports-focused actions
Earlier in 2025, the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (TSWC) pushed withdrawals involving sweepstakes brands with sportsbook-style products. The source lists Legendz, ReBet, Kickr, and Sportzino among those affected at that time.
However, because the TSWC’s authority is limited to sports wagering, traditional sweepstakes casinos without sportsbook components were largely outside that regulator’s reach. The Attorney General’s enforcement action expands the state’s ability to pressure a wider range of sweepstakes casino operators.
Player Impact: What Tennessee Users Should Expect
If you play sweepstakes casinos from Tennessee, this enforcement wave can change your day-to-day experience quickly - sometimes without much notice inside the app.
Likely outcomes for Tennessee accounts
- Sweeps-style play may be disabled (even if the site still loads and free-play remains available).
- Redemption features may be restricted if the platform determines Tennessee users are no longer eligible.
- Geolocation and verification checks may tighten as operators try to comply with state enforcement demands.
- Brand-by-brand timelines will vary, since the AG’s office indicated some operators agreed to changes on a future date.
What to do right now (practical steps)
- Check your preferred platform’s Tennessee status inside its help center or terms page before purchasing anything.
- If free-play remains available, confirm whether sweepstakes currency accrual or redemption is still permitted for Tennessee users.
- Keep records of promotions and account communications in case redemption eligibility changes.
Tennessee’s announcement makes clear that the state’s Attorney General is actively challenging sweepstakes casino operations and pushing operators to disable features the office considers illegal. With nearly 40 platforms named and compliance already underway, Tennessee players should expect continued changes into early 2026 as operators adjust their products - or exit the state entirely.