New Jersey Governor signs anti-sweepstakes legislation into law
The decision has led to vocal opposition from groups such as SGLA, which stated lawmakers in New Jersey have ‘completely ignored their own constituents’ when passing A5447 and S4282.
Key Points
- The legislation prohibits sweepstakes casinos from conducting businesses within the state and establishes new penalties for unlawful gambling operations
- Should any penalties need to be enforced, the bills also call for the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to handle such affairs
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy officially signed bills A5447 and S4282 into law on August 15, prohibiting sweepstakes casinos from conducting businesses within the state and establishing new penalties for any unlawful gambling operations.
The decision has led to vocal opposition from groups such as the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), which stated lawmakers in New Jersey have “completely ignored their own constituents” when passing A5447 and S4282.
“This law is a textbook example of government overreach that strips away entertainment choices from adults who should be free to make decisions about their own entertainment,” SGLA Executive Director Jeff Duncan said.
“New Jersey lawmakers have chosen to eliminate jobs, destroy innovation and take away games that adults play responsibly and enjoy. This isn’t about consumer protection – it’s about using political influence to help established gambling interests eliminate perceived competition even though our products are fundamentally different.”
Should any penalties need to be enforced against sweepstakes operators, the bills also call for the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and Division of Gaming Enforcement to handle such affairs.
On July 29, Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) began phasing out its sweepstakes promotions in the state of New Jersey, when players using Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots or Global Poker were no longer able to earn sweeps coins from any source.
Good to know: New Jersey lawmakers originally proposed the legislation in March 2025, while the state’s Senate passed the bills with a vote of 34-5 on June 30
A VGW spokesperson confirmed the decision to Gaming America, having said, “We can confirm that following careful consideration, we’ve informed players of a decision to phase out Promotional Play (sweepstakes promotions) in the state of New Jersey.
“Our valued players in New Jersey will still be able to enjoy all their favorite free-to-play games using Gold Coins, and we are 100 percent focused on ensuring players are fully informed about the changes, and that this transition is as smooth as possible.”
On August 26, the operator will no longer accept sweeps coins for gameplay, and any mail-in requests for sweeps coins from players will not be processed. By September 24, redemptions will be discontinued on any VGW-affiliated sweepstakes casinos in New Jersey.
New Jersey now joins Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New York and Washington as states where VGW will only allow for gold coins play.
Players trust our reporting due to our commitment to unbiased and professional evaluations of the iGaming sector. We track hundreds of platforms and industry updates daily to ensure our news feed and leaderboards reflect the most recent market shifts. With nearly two decades of experience within iGaming, our team provides a wealth of expert knowledge. This long-standing expertise enables us to deliver thorough, reliable news and guidance to our readers.
Latest News
