Connecticut has banned sweepstakes that allow “real or simulated online casino gaming” since October 1, 2025. Only state-licensed operators are exempt. No site on Clovr’s reviewed list offers prize play there now.
Two licensed online casinos still serve players 21 and older: DraftKings with Foxwoods and FanDuel with Mohegan Sun. Card-pack, mystery box and graded card apps follow later on this page.
Connecticut is listed as banned in Clovr’s state-by-state sweepstakes tracker. Verify current laws in your jurisdiction before playing.
Alternatives to Sweepstakes Casinos in Connecticut
Connecticut players have two licensed online casinos and three types of collectible and prize sites. Clovr found no Connecticut court or agency ruling on the collectible and prize sites.
| Alternative | What you get | Minimum age | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed online casinos | Real-money casino games from DraftKings (Foxwoods) or FanDuel (Mohegan Sun) | 21 | Department of Consumer Protection |
| Card crush | Digital card packs and site coins | 18, or 21 where required | crush-cards.com |
| Mystery boxes | A random item, often with a sell-back option for site credit | 18 | mistery-boxes.com |
| Card rips and card collecting | Physical trading cards, most of them graded | Set by each app | mycardrips.com |
Licensed Online Casinos
The Department of Consumer Protection says Connecticut has only two licensed online casinos. They are DraftKings with Foxwoods and FanDuel with Mohegan Sun.
Both launched on October 19, 2021, for adults 21 and older. Section 12-863 requires players to be physically in Connecticut when they play.
These are real-money casinos, not sweepstakes sites. Purchases and prizes are cash, and the operators are regulated by the department.
Card Crush Sites
Card crush sites sell digital card packs and award their own site coins. Crush-cards.com says CardCrush listed Connecticut as a service state in its own terms as of June 2026.
Crush-cards.com describes CardCrush as a single-currency skill contest. Clovr has not verified CardCrush’s legal status in Connecticut. Check its current terms, including how its coins are redeemed, before you buy.
Mystery Boxes
Mystery box sites sell boxes that hold a random physical item. Many let you sell an item back for site credit.
Mistery-boxes.com ranks these sites and scores each one. Read each box site’s Terms for Connecticut before you buy.
Card Rips and Card Collecting
Card rip apps sell digital packs backed by real graded trading cards. You can vault a card, have it shipped, or sell it back to the app.
Mycardrips.com reviews these apps and tracks their buyback rates. It has measured buyback offers from 84.6% to a little over 100% of each app’s stated card value.
Connecticut’s Sweepstakes Ban Under Public Act 25-112
Public Act 25-112 began as SB 1235 and was approved on June 24, 2025. Section 14 rewrote CGS § 42-301, the state’s sweepstakes law, effective October 1, 2025.
What the Law Bans
Section 42-301(a) now bars any person from conducting or promoting a sweepstakes that falls into one of three groups. Only a person licensed under chapter 229b, Connecticut’s online gaming law, is exempt.
1. Unrelated sales: the sweepstakes “is not related to the bona fide sale of goods, services or property.” 2. Simulated devices: the sweepstakes uses a device that simulates casino play. 3. Online casino play: the sweepstakes “allows or facilitates participation in any real or simulated online casino gaming” or sports picks.
The third group describes the standard dual-coin sweepstakes casino. The exemption covers only people licensed under chapter 229b, and Connecticut has only two licensed online casinos.
Who the Law Reaches
Anyone who conducts or promotes such a sweepstakes falls under the ban. The statute does not define “promote,” and it has no separate clause for payment processors or suppliers.
Connecticut’s general definition of a person, in § 53-278a(8), also covers “any corporate officer, director or stockholder” who takes part in a violation. Clovr found no ruling on whether it reaches § 42-301 cases.
Penalties for Operators and Promoters
A violation carries the penalty for professional play under § 53-278b(b), a class A misdemeanor. It also counts as an unfair trade practice under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.
| Penalty | Source | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor jail term | § 53a-36 | Up to one year |
| Class A misdemeanor fine | § 53a-42 | Up to $2,000 |
| Civil penalty for a willful trade-practice violation | § 42-110o(b) | Up to $5,000 per violation |
| Breaking a court order under the trade-practice law | § 42-110o(a) | Up to $25,000 per violation |
Simulated devices and premises used for these sweepstakes are a “common nuisance” under the law. They can be seized and shut down.
How SB 1235 Passed
Both chambers passed SB 1235 without a single vote against it. The Senate voted 36-0 on May 22, 2025, and the House followed 146-0 in June 2025.
Governor Ned Lamont approved the bill as Public Act 25-112 on June 24, 2025. Public Act 26-53, the 2026 gaming law, left the ban unchanged.
What the Law Does Not Cover
The law keeps one narrow exemption for grocery chains with five or more stores running simulated-device sweepstakes tied to grocery sales. Their prizes cannot be redeemable for cash and must work only as discounts.
Licensed online casinos and sportsbooks also fall outside the ban, because they hold licences under chapter 229b.
How Connecticut Defines Unlawful Play
Connecticut’s general definition in § 53-278a(2) lists casino games “such as blackjack, poker, craps, roulette or a slot machine.” Licensed online casino games and sportsbooks are excluded from it.
A sweepstakes casino offers the same game types, using coins instead of cash stakes. Section 42-301 now names real or simulated online casino gaming directly.
How Sweepstakes Casinos Worked Before the Ban
Sweepstakes casinos use two coins. Gold Coins are for fun play, and Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for prizes after play.
At some sites Clovr reviews, Gold Coin packages include free Sweeps Coins as a bonus. Those sites also give Sweeps Coins through free mail-in entry (AMOE). Clovr’s Sweeps Coins explainer and guide to how sweepstakes casinos work cover the model in detail.
Can Players Be Charged in Connecticut
Section 42-301 targets people who conduct or promote a sweepstakes, not players. Connecticut’s general law is broader, though.
Section 53-278b(a) makes taking part in unlawful play a class B misdemeanor. The limits are six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, but Clovr found no case charging a sweepstakes player.
Connecticut Sweepstakes Timeline
These dated events shape Connecticut’s position today. Each comes from a state record, official release, or operator Terms or help center.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 19, 2021 | Licensed online casinos and sportsbooks launch for adults 21 and older. |
| March 14, 2025 | The Department of Consumer Protection suspends an online gaming service provider’s licence over alleged gaming-law violations. |
| May 22, 2025 | The Senate passes SB 1235 by 36-0. |
| May 29, 2025 | That operator agrees to pay nearly $1.5 million in a settlement. |
| June 2025 | The House passes SB 1235 by 146-0. |
| June 24, 2025 | Public Act 25-112 is approved. |
| October 1, 2025 | The sweepstakes ban in § 42-301 takes effect. |
| May 19, 2026 | Public Act 26-53 orders a study of prediction markets, with no sweepstakes changes. |
| October 15, 2026 | None of the 20 sites Clovr reviews lists Connecticut as a served state. |
What Happened to Sweepstakes Sites in Connecticut
As of October 15, 2026, none of the 20 sites Clovr reviews lists Connecticut as a served state. That covers prize play and Gold Coin play.
Clovr checked each site’s Terms or its list of served states. A site can change its list at any time, so check before you sign up.
What the Ban Means for Connecticut Players
You cannot play for prizes at any sweepstakes site Clovr reviews from Connecticut. The steps below cover what remains.
- Avoid any sweepstakes casino that still offers prize play in Connecticut, because it may be violating § 42-301.
- Use only the two licensed online casinos for real-money casino games.
- Read the Terms of any card or box site for its Connecticut rules before you buy.
- Keep records of any old purchases and redemptions.
Sweepstakes, Free-Play and Licensed Casinos Compared in Connecticut
Three models look alike on a phone screen but carry different legal status in Connecticut. The prize is what separates them.
| Model | Status in Connecticut | Prize | Minimum age | Oversight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweepstakes casino with two coins | Banned since October 1, 2025, unless licensed under chapter 229b | Sweeps Coins redeemable for cash prizes | Not applicable | Department of Consumer Protection enforces § 42-301 |
| Free-play social casino | Section 42-301 covers sweepstakes, and a game with no prize of value is not one | None | Set by each app | No state licence |
| Licensed online casino | Legal, with two licensed operators | Real-money payouts | 21 | Department of Consumer Protection |
None of the 20 sites Clovr reviews offers even its Gold Coin mode in Connecticut. A free-play app should never offer a coin that turns into a prize.
Connecticut and Other State Sweepstakes Bans
Connecticut’s ban took effect on the same day as Montana’s, October 1, 2025. Only New Jersey’s statute came into force earlier, on August 15, 2025.
| State | Law | Takes effect |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | P.L.2025, c.128 | August 15, 2025 |
| Connecticut | SB 1235, Public Act 25-112 | October 1, 2025 |
| Montana | SB 555 | October 1, 2025 |
| New York | S5935A | December 5, 2025 |
| California | AB 831 | January 1, 2026 |
| Tennessee | SB 2136 / HB 1885 | May 22, 2026 |
| Indiana | HB 1052 | July 1, 2026 |
| Maine | LD 2007 | July 29, 2026 |
| Louisiana | Act 48 and Act 182 | August 1, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | SB 1589 | November 1, 2026 (pending) |
Nevada and Iowa restrict the model through enforcement laws rather than outright bans. Verify current laws in your jurisdiction before playing.
Enforcement in Connecticut
The Department of Consumer Protection’s main sweepstakes case came before the ban. On May 29, 2025, it announced a settlement of nearly $1.5 million with a sweepstakes operator.
That total included more than $643,000 in restitution to consumers. The department’s Gaming Division director called the product “an unlicensed sweepstakes casino.”
Clovr found no department sweepstakes action from June 2025 through September 22, 2026. In December 2025, the department ordered three prediction-market platforms to stop, which is a separate issue.
What Remains Legal in Connecticut
Connecticut licenses online casinos, sportsbooks and several in-person options. The table lists the main ones as of October 2026.
| Activity | Status in Connecticut | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Online casinos | DraftKings (Foxwoods) and FanDuel (Mohegan Sun) | 21 |
| Sportsbooks | DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics (Connecticut Lottery) | 21 |
| Tribal casinos | Foxwoods, opened in 1992, and Mohegan Sun | 21 for slots and table games at Foxwoods; check Mohegan Sun’s own rules |
| Online lottery draw games, keno and fantasy contests | Licensed | 18 |
| Off-track race play | Legal since 1976 and privately run since 1993 | Check the operator’s rules |
| Bingo, bazaars and raffles | Bingo legal since 1939; towns have issued permits since January 2017 | Check local rules |
Taxes on Prizes in Connecticut
Connecticut counts sweepstakes proceeds and contest prizes as taxable income for residents. The Department of Revenue Services also says losses cannot be deducted on the state return.
- State: rates run from 2.0% to 6.99%, with the top rate above $500,000 for a single filer.
- Federal: a payer generally files Form 1099-MISC once your prizes from it reach $2,000 in a year, starting with 2026.
- Licensed casinos: from 2026, Form W-2G covers slot, bingo and keno payouts of $2,000 or more.
- Federal losses: from 2026, only 90% of casino play losses can be deducted, and only up to reported casino income.
- Records: keep the date and value of every prize.
Speak with a tax professional about large prizes. Clovr does not give tax advice.
Responsible Gaming Resources in Connecticut
The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling runs a free helpline 24 hours a day. Call or text 1-888-789-7777.
The state’s problem gambling services office is at 860-344-2244, and self-exclusion is available at ct.gov/selfexclusion. Clovr’s responsible gaming page covers setting limits.
Sources for This Connecticut Guide
Clovr checked the sources below between September 22 and October 15, 2026. Trackers were used only as leads, and review sites are cited only for findings attributed to them.
- Public Act 25-112 and its legislative summary, and Public Act 26-53 (2026).
- CGS §§ 42-301, 53-278a, 53-278b, 53a-36, 53a-42, 42-110o, 12-700, 12-863 and 1-1d, and the department’s legalized gaming page.
- Department of Consumer Protection releases of October 17, 2021, May 29, 2025, December 3, 2025, and February 7, 2026.
- Department of Revenue Services IP 2011(27), the Council on Problem Gambling helpline page and the state problem gaming page.
- Trade press reports of the SB 1235 votes, dated May 28 and June 4, 2025.
- EY and Baker Tilly summaries of the 2026 federal reporting changes.
- Clovr’s state-by-state ban register, last verified September 24, 2026.
- Each operator’s Terms and help center, and the pages of crush-cards.com, mistery-boxes.com and mycardrips.com.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Connecticut FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Connecticut?
No. Public Act 25-112 banned sweepstakes casinos effective October 1, 2025. Major platforms stopped accepting Connecticut players by that date.
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What Law Created the Ban?
Senate Bill 1235 was signed on June 12, 2025 and became Public Act 25-112. It passed 36-0 in the Senate and 146-0 in the House.
-
Are Players Criminally Liable?
No. The felony provisions target operators and promoters, not players. However, Connecticut accounts may be closed and pending redemptions may be blocked.
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Can Players Use a VPN?
No. A VPN may bypass location controls, but it does not make access compliant. It also violates platform terms and may lead to account closure or forfeited balances.
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Which Platforms Left Connecticut?
Mega Bonanza, McLuck, Play Fame, and Pulsz had geo-blocked Connecticut by October 1, 2025. Other platforms also exited after the ban.
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What Legal Online Casinos Are Available?
FanDuel Casino and DraftKings Casino are Connecticut’s two licensed real-money online casinos. Players must be 21 or older and physically located in the state.
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How Are Gambling Winnings Taxed?
Connecticut taxes gambling winnings at rates up to 6.99%. Federal withholding may apply above certain thresholds, and Connecticut does not allow state-level gambling loss deductions.
Related Reading
These Clovr guides cover the law and nearby states.
- Clovr’s guide to whether sweepstakes casinos are legal explains the prize, chance and consideration test.
- The New York sweepstakes guide covers a neighboring state.
- Clovr’s Massachusetts sweepstakes guide covers another neighbor to the north.
- The Rhode Island guide covers another neighbor in New England.
Clovr may earn a commission when you sign up through affiliate links on this page. This never affects our reviews, which stay independent and unbiased.
Sweepstakes play should stay fun. If you or someone you know needs support, visit the National Council on Problem Gambling at ncpgambling.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER.
