No sweepstakes site Clovr reviews serves Delaware, so the better question is what to play instead. The state Lottery runs online casino games and eInstant games, and card and prize box sites offer a different kind of prize.
The reason is legal. In 2025, Delaware’s Division of Gaming Enforcement said one sweepstakes operator’s games violated the state constitution and penal code.
Delaware appears as blocked in the Clovr state tracker. Verify current laws in your jurisdiction before playing.
Alternatives to Sweepstakes Casinos in Delaware
Delaware players have two state-run options and three kinds of collectible prize sites. The state-run options are the only ones Delaware itself licenses.
| Alternative | How it compares to a sweepstakes casino | What you get back | Minimum age | Delaware status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Lottery online casino games | The same kinds of slot and table games, played for real money | Cash prizes | 21 | Run by the state Lottery |
| Delaware Lottery eInstant games | Short instant games played on a screen | Cash prizes | 18 for tickets and 21 for internet games; confirm at sign-up | Run by the state Lottery |
| Card crush sites | Card packs and site coins instead of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins | Site coins; redemption needs an ID check | 18, or 21 where required | CardCrush lists Delaware as a service state, per crush-cards.com |
| Mystery box sites | Pay a set price to open a box, with odds shown first | A physical item, or site credit if you sell it back | 18 | Varies by site; no Delaware ruling found |
| Card rip apps | Open digital packs backed by real trading cards | A graded card you can keep, ship or sell back | 18 | No state limits stated by mycardrips.com |
Clovr found no Delaware court or agency ruling on card crush, mystery box or card rip sites. Read each site’s Terms for Delaware before you buy.
1. Delaware Lottery Online Casino Games
The Lottery’s online casino games are the closest legal match to a sweepstakes casino in Delaware. They offer the same game types, with cash prizes instead of coins.
29 Del. C. § 4826 lets the Lottery Director run an internet lottery for players physically in Delaware. The Lottery says it was the first state to launch online casino games, on November 7, 2013.
- Casinos: Delaware Park, Bally’s Dover and Harrington each run online games “powered by BetRivers,” according to the Lottery.
- Who can play: players 21 and older who are physically in Delaware.
- Platform change: BetRivers took over from 888 at the end of 2023. Trade press reported January 2024 revenue of $3.4 million, nearly triple the level under 888.
2. Delaware Lottery eInstant Games
eInstant games are the Lottery’s online instant tickets. A local news report said the Lottery launched a new iLottery program with Scientific Games in January 2026.
- Games: the report listed more than 250 eInstant games, including licensed titles such as MONOPOLY.
- Sign-up: full registration requires an identity check.
- Coming next: Delaware Public Media reported that draw games are set to come online in fall 2026.
- Pending bill: HB 335 would require iLottery players to buy prepaid cards at physical stores.
The Lottery lists 18 as the age for tickets and 21 for internet games. Confirm which rule applies when you register.
3. Card Crush Sites
Card crush sites sell digital card packs and award their own site coins. Crush-cards.com ranks these brands and lists only CardCrush as available in Delaware.
- Delaware status: crush-cards.com says Delaware is listed as a service state in CardCrush’s own terms as of June 2026.
- Model: crush-cards.com calls CardCrush a single-currency skill contest.
- Starter offer: a sponsored offer lists 5 coins and 5 cards for $9.99, for players 21 and older.
- Redemption: crush-cards.com says redemption requires an identity check, with limits that vary by brand.
Clovr has not verified CardCrush’s legal status in Delaware. Check its current terms, including how its coins are redeemed, before you buy.
4. Mystery Box Sites
Mystery box sites charge a set price to open a digital box and send you the item inside. Mistery-boxes.com says reputable sites show the odds of every prize before you buy.
The same site says the average box is designed to return less than you spend. Many sites let you sell an item back for site credit.
Mistery-boxes.com scores each site from 0 to 10 across six weighted categories.
- Odds and fairness: 25%.
- Boxes and prizes: 20%.
- Trust and safety: 20%.
- Value and bonuses: 15%.
- User experience: 10%.
- Payouts: 10%.
| Site (mistery-boxes.com rank) | Score | US availability, per mistery-boxes.com |
|---|---|---|
| 1. HypeDrop | 8.9 | Full US availability |
| 2. RillaBox | 8.3 | All states except Washington |
| 3. Jemlit | 8.0 | Most states; Washington and Idaho blocked |
| 5. MrLoot | 7.8 | Most states, with some restricted |
Most top-ranked sites pay cash-outs only in crypto. The site also says the legal picture is unsettled for some operators.
5. Card Rip Apps
Card rip apps let you buy and open sealed packs online. Mycardrips.com says nearly every pull is a professionally graded card held in the app’s vault.
You can keep a card in the vault, have it shipped, or sell it back to the app. Mycardrips.com scores apps on legitimacy, odds, buyback fairness, shipping, fees, ease of use and payout speed.
| App (mycardrips.com rank) | Buyback, per mycardrips.com | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Triumph | About 102% of market on the sales it checked | Scored 9.1; packs from $1 |
| 2. Courtyard | A flat 84.6% of its stated market value | 81% to 86% of real sold prices on the sales checked |
| 3. Arena Club | No published rate | A 10% add-on guarantees at least 80% of the pack price |
Mycardrips.com says no brand sponsors its rankings and that its site is for players 18 and older.
How to Pick an Alternative in Delaware
The right choice depends on what you liked about sweepstakes casinos. Each goal below points to one option.
- Slot and table games with cash prizes: Delaware Lottery online casino games, for players 21 and older.
- Quick games on your phone: Delaware Lottery eInstant games.
- Something physical to keep: card rip apps, where the card is yours to ship or hold.
- Odds shown before you buy: mystery box sites that publish them.
What to Check Before You Buy
1. Delaware appears as a served state in the site’s own Terms. 2. Your age meets the site’s minimum. 3. Odds or buyback rates are published before you buy. 4. Cash-out methods, minimums and identity checks suit you. 5. Its Terms show a recent date and a named operator.
Delaware’s Position on Sweepstakes Casinos
Delaware has no law written for sweepstakes casinos. Its regulator relies on three older sources of law instead.
The April 2025 Cease-and-Desist Order
On April 7, 2025, Delaware announced a cease-and-desist order against an operator that marketed its games as a sweepstakes. The release said the operator “misrepresented its services as a promotional sweepstakes while enabling players to purchase coins.”
It added that the games “violate the Delaware Constitution, the Delaware Penal Code and the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012.” Delaware residents could no longer play those games from April 2, 2025.
- The Division of Gaming Enforcement issued the order “with the support of the Delaware State Lottery.”
- The release warned about limited options for getting money out, identity theft, fraud and lookalike sites.
- It told residents to visit delottery.com to verify legal sites.
- It said sites “claiming to offer legal games of chance should be viewed with suspicion.”
An Earlier Order in 2023
The April 2025 order was not the Division’s first step against that operator. Trade press reported a Division order to it dated February 23, 2023.
The Division’s director confirmed that letter to Legal Sports Report. It said letting Delaware residents play “is in violation of Delaware law” and told the operator to suspend Delaware accounts.
Why Delaware Rejected the Sweepstakes Argument
Sweepstakes casinos rely on free mail-in entry to argue that no purchase is needed. Delaware’s 2025 release focused on the fact that players could still buy coins.
The release said the operator “misrepresented its services as a promotional sweepstakes while enabling players to purchase coins.” It then treated the games as online slots under the constitution, penal code and 2012 gaming law.
Reports of More Letters in 2026
Trade press reported that the Division sent letters to more sweepstakes operators in mid-August 2026. Clovr could not find a state release confirming those letters.
The same reports say two sweepstakes brands ended prize play in Delaware on August 21, 2026. Those reports are leads, not official records.
The State Constitution
Article II, § 17 of the Delaware Constitution opens with a broad rule. It prohibits “all forms” of games of chance for stakes in the state, apart from a short list of exceptions.
| Exception in art. II, § 17 | What it allows |
|---|---|
| (1) State lotteries | Games run by the state to raise funds, which now include online casino games |
| (2) Charitable lotteries | Lotteries by organizations in existence at least 2 years, excluding slots, roulette, craps and baccarat; players must be 18 for money prizes |
| (3) Horse racing | Pari-mutuel play inside licensed racetracks |
| (4) Bingo | Bingo under § 17A |
The Division’s 2025 release said one operator’s games violate the constitution. Clovr found no Delaware court ruling on that question.
Delaware’s Penal Code and Penalties
Title 11 of the Delaware Code sets out the main offenses for unlawful games in sections 1401 to 1407. The Division’s release cited the penal code in general terms, not specific sections.
Offenses and Penalties
Most offenses that reach operators are class A misdemeanors. The table lists the main sections and the limits in § 4206.
| Offense | Section | Class | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advancing an unlawful game, second degree | 11 Del. C. § 1401 | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year and a $2,300 fine |
| Advancing an unlawful game, first degree | 11 Del. C. § 1403 | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year and a $2,300 fine |
| Possessing a slot machine or other prohibited device | 11 Del. C. § 1405 | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year and a $2,300 fine |
| Having an interest in keeping a prohibited device | 11 Del. C. § 1406 | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year and a $2,300 fine |
| Providing premises for unlawful play | 11 Del. C. § 1404 | Unclassified misdemeanor | Up to 30 days and a $575 fine; a repeat within 5 years is a class A misdemeanor |
Which section would apply to an online sweepstakes casino is Clovr’s reading, not the Division’s. Clovr found no Delaware court decision applying these sections to one.
The Merchandising Plan Exception
Section 1408 removes merchandising plans from §§ 1401 to 1405. The exception fails if a purchase is required. It also fails if the chance must be paid for “in money or something of actual pecuniary value.”
Sweepstakes operators argue that free mail-in entry removes the purchase element, as Clovr’s guide to how sweepstakes casinos work explains. The Division’s 2025 release said the operator misrepresented its services as a promotional sweepstakes, without citing § 1408 or mail-in entry.
Can Players Be Charged in Delaware
Clovr found no Delaware statute that makes playing an online slot an offense for the player. The 2025 release targeted the operator, not its players.
Section 1403 does cover a person who stakes money or anything of value on contests of skill, speed or endurance. That section is aimed at contests, not casino-style games.
How Sweepstakes Casinos Work
Sweepstakes casinos run two coins side by side. Only one of them can lead to a prize, and that is the coin Delaware’s regulator objected to.
| Feature | Gold Coins | Sweeps Coins |
|---|---|---|
| Can be bought | Yes, in packages | No, but some packages include them as a bonus |
| Cash value | None | Redeemable for cash prizes after playthrough |
| Free route | Daily and sign-up rewards | Free mail-in entry (AMOE) and daily rewards |
| Available in Delaware | No, at all 20 sites Clovr reviews | No, at all 20 sites Clovr reviews |
Clovr’s guide to how sweepstakes casinos work covers the model in more detail.
Sweepstakes, Free-Play and State-Run Casinos Compared in Delaware
Three kinds of casino app can look the same on a phone. In Delaware, the prize and who runs the game decide which ones are allowed.
| Model | Status in Delaware | Prize | Minimum age | Oversight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweepstakes casino with two coins | The Division said one operator’s games violate state law | Sweeps Coins redeemable for cash prizes | Not applicable | Division of Gaming Enforcement |
| Free-play social casino | No Delaware ruling found; none of Clovr’s 20 sites offers it in Delaware | None | Set by each app | No state licence |
| State-run online casino | Legal through the Delaware Lottery | Real-money payouts | 21 | Delaware Lottery |
Delaware Sweepstakes Timeline
These dated events shape Delaware’s position today. Each comes from a state record, Lottery publication, or operator Terms or help center, except where marked.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 31, 1974 | Delaware’s lottery law is signed. |
| November 7, 2013 | The Lottery launches online casino games and calls itself the first state to do so. |
| June 5, 2018 | Full-scale sports play launches through the Lottery. |
| December 27, 2023 | The Lottery launches one mobile app for online casino games and sports. |
| February 23, 2023 | The Division orders one sweepstakes operator to stop serving Delaware, as later reported by trade press. |
| April 2, 2025 | Delaware residents can no longer play one operator’s sweepstakes games. |
| April 7, 2025 | The state announces its cease-and-desist order. |
| Mid-August 2026 | Trade press reports more letters to sweepstakes operators (not confirmed by a state release). |
| October 15, 2026 | None of the 20 sites Clovr reviews lists Delaware as a served state. |
What Happened to Sweepstakes Sites in Delaware
As of October 15, 2026, none of the 20 sites Clovr reviews lists Delaware as a served state.
That covers both prize play and Gold Coin play. A site can change its list at any time, so check before you sign up.
What It Means for Delaware Players
No sweepstakes site Clovr reviews offers prize play to Delaware residents. These steps cover what remains.
- Treat any site still offering sweepstakes prizes in Delaware with caution, as the state’s release advised.
- Visit delottery.com to verify whether a site is legal in Delaware.
- Read the Terms of any card or box site for its Delaware rules before you buy.
- Keep records of old purchases and redemptions.
Bills in Delaware
Clovr scanned the titles and summaries of all 1,962 items in Delaware’s 153rd General Assembly for 2025 and 2026. None mentions sweepstakes.
The online gaming items Clovr found concern the Lottery’s iLottery games. HB 335 would require prepaid cards for iLottery, and HCR 157 asks for an iLottery report by January 15, 2027.
What Remains Legal in Delaware
Delaware runs most legal gaming through its Lottery. The table lists the main options and their ages.
| Activity | Status in Delaware | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Lottery tickets | Legal | 18 |
| Online casino games and mobile sports | Run by the Lottery through three casinos | 21 |
| Casinos at Delaware Park, Bally’s Dover and Harrington | Video lottery and table games | 21 |
| Horse racing | Pari-mutuel play at licensed tracks | Not stated in Clovr’s sources |
| Charitable games and bingo | Licensed by the Delaware Board of Charitable Gaming | 18 for lotteries with money prizes |
Taxes on Prizes in Delaware
Delaware’s top income tax rate is 6.6% on taxable income above $60,000. The Lottery says all its winning tickets are subject to Delaware income tax.
- 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.
- State: Clovr found no Division of Revenue page on sweepstakes prizes, so ask a tax professional.
- Records: keep the date and value of every prize.
Age Rules in Delaware
Delaware’s age of full legal capacity is 18. Lottery tickets also require players to be 18. Online casino games, sports and table games require players to be 21.
| Activity | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Age of majority | 18 |
| Lottery tickets | 18 |
| Online casino games, sports, video lottery and table games | 21 |
| Sweepstakes sites Clovr reviews | 21, though none accepts Delaware |
Responsible Gaming Resources in Delaware
Delaware’s problem gaming council runs a helpline at 1-888-850-8888, open 24 hours a day. Its website is deproblemgambling.org.
The Lottery runs a self-exclusion program for one year, five years or life, with enrollment in Dover at (302) 744-1669. Clovr’s responsible gaming page covers other tools.
Sources for This Delaware Guide
Clovr checked the state sources below on October 15, 2026, and operator and other site pages from October 2 to 15, 2026. Trade press reports were used only as leads and are marked as such in the text.
- State of Delaware release on the cease-and-desist order (April 7, 2025).
- Delaware Constitution art. II, § 17, and 11 Del. C. §§ 1401 to 1408, 4206 and 1 Del. C. § 701.
- 29 Del. C. § 4826, 30 Del. C. § 1102 and the 153rd General Assembly bill listing.
- Delaware Lottery fact sheet, timeline, iGaming, FAQ and self-exclusion pages, and the Division of Gaming Enforcement help page.
- Legal Sports Report on the February 2023 order and Bonus.com on BetRivers revenue (February 26, 2024), used as reported.
- EY and Baker Tilly summaries of the 2026 federal reporting changes.
- Each operator’s Terms and help center, and the pages of crush-cards.com, mistery-boxes.com and mycardrips.com.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Delaware FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are Sweepstakes Casinos Legal in Delaware in 2026?
No. The DGE considers unlicensed sweepstakes gaming illegal under the Delaware Constitution, Penal Code, and Gaming Competitiveness Act. Enforcement against VGW began in February 2023 and escalated in April 2025, prompting its Delaware exit on April 2, 2025.
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Which Sweepstakes Casinos Accept Delaware Residents?
None reviewed by Clovr allow Sweeps Coin redemption in 2026. Restricted platforms include McLuck, Pulsz, Mega Bonanza, Play Fame, FunzCity, NoLimitCoins, FunRize, Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, WOW Vegas, and High 5 Casino. Restrictions are enforced through geolocation and KYC checks.
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How Do Sweepstakes Casinos Differ From Delaware’s Licensed Online Casino?
Sweepstakes casinos use Gold Coins and prize-redeemable Sweeps Coins without a state gaming licence. Delaware’s licensed online casino uses real money, operates through the Delaware State Lottery, and is available to residents aged 21 or older.
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Why Can’t I Access Sweepstakes Casinos From Delaware?
Platforms detect Delaware IP addresses and verify residency through KYC providers such as Jumio or Onfido. Access may be blocked during registration, login, or Sweeps Coin redemption.
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Can I Use Free or Gold Coin Mode in Delaware?
Some platforms permit Gold Coin-only play with no cash value or prizes. Availability varies and may change, so confirm eligibility before registering.
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Do Delaware Residents Pay Tax on Gambling Winnings?
Yes. Winnings over $600 are generally subject to federal reporting on Form 1099-MISC or W-2G, depending on the game. Delaware taxes winnings as ordinary income at rates from 2.2% to 6.6%. Players should retain complete gaming records for state and federal filings.
Related Reading
These Clovr guides cover the law, the coins and nearby states.
- Clovr’s guide to whether sweepstakes casinos are legal explains the prize, chance and consideration test.
- The Sweeps Coins and Gold Coins explainer shows how the two coins differ.
- The Maryland sweepstakes guide covers a neighboring state with regulator action.
- Clovr’s New Jersey sweepstakes guide covers a nearby state with a statutory ban.
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.
