Casino

Are Most Players Happy With The NJ Sweepstakes Ban?

By Pete Amato

Published: Jul 2nd, 2025 · 12:31 PM EDT

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If you’ve been scrolling through casino Twitter or Reddit, you’ve probably seen a lot of chatter… New Jersey just became the sixth state to ban sweepstakes casinos, with Bill A5447 now sitting on Gov. Murphy’s desk. 

The SPGA is already calling for a veto, warning this could mess with way more than just free-to-play slots. New Jersey just banned sweepstakes casinos like Pulsz, Chumba, and High 5, and players are split. Let’s dig into whether most players are actually okay with it.

Regulators & Real-Money Fans Agree With NJ Sweepstakes Ban

A lot of die-hard real-money casino players breathed a sigh of relief. They never trusted the sweepstakes model – you buy “gold coins,” then hope those turn into “sweeps cash.” Sounds confusing, right? The casinos never had to follow NJ Division of Gaming rules, so consumer protections weren’t top-tier.

On X (Twitter) @IBookWins stated:

HELL YEAH! Hope this passes and other states add on. These sweeps sites are absolute scams and the people promoting them should get hit too.

For folks already playing legit apps like Borgata or Hard Rock, the ban is just cleaning up a messy grey zone. Now all the action is funneled through real-money casinos that are regulated and taxed.

Casual Gamers Don’t Like The NJ Sweepstakes Ban

But casual players? They’re annoyed. Sweepstakes platforms were easy, low-pressure, and didn’t require full-blown casino accounts… no geolocation hassle, no ID checks, just play and maybe win.

On X (Twitter), one user put it bluntly:

“Loved the low stakes and casual vibe… now that’s gone. Feels like NJ is shutting down fun.”

They used sweeps coins and could win real cash without ever making a real-money deposit. Now that choice is gone, and jumping into regulated casino apps feels like a different beast altogether.

One X (Twitter) user even went as far as saying:

@TheSPBGA: “NJ A5477: A GIFT TO CASINO LOBBYISTS, A BLOW TO DIGITAL FREEDOM”

Dark day in New Jersey ⛈️- and for the future of sports betting.

Consumers were hit with a TRIPLE WHAMMY of bad legislative moves.

1) Gross Gaming Revenue taxes were raised to 19.75% for operators – as we've seen, this flows through to the consumer with poorer pricing and…

— Captain Jack Andrews (@capjack2000) June 30, 2025

What NJ Lawmakers Are Saying About the NJ Sweepstakes Ban

The NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement officially declared sweepstakes platforms a form of illegal gambling. Lawmakers didn’t push back much. A5447 passed quickly and with broad support, effectively shutting down sites that weren’t operating with a state license. It’s not just about consumer protection… it’s about control, oversight, and tax dollars. New Jersey runs one of the most tightly regulated gambling markets in the country, and it wants everything on the books. Browse the full list of legal US casinos.

Mixed Reactions Echo Across the States

New Jersey isn’t the only state putting the brakes on sweepstakes casinos. New York, Connecticut, Montana, and others have started enforcing similar bans. But in NJ, the frustration has a little extra heat – especially after lawmakers also raised tax rates on licensed casinos.

Take it from AC poker regular @ACpoker0271 on X (Twitter):

“What a joke NJ!! @ClintCalabrese banning sweepstakes sites (which created jobs etc) also raising taxes on iGaming from 13 to 19% and sports betting from 15 to 19%.”

So yeah… the sweepstakes ban didn’t happen in a vacuum. And for a lot of players, it’s not just about the games – it’s about how much more expensive NJ gambling is getting overall.

So Are Players Actually Happy With The NJ Sweepstakes Ban?

It depends on who you ask.

• Hardcore casino fans say this was long overdue. Most of them were already using online casino apps to play legal real money online slots, where everything’s regulated and smooth.
• Casual, low-stakes players feel shut out. Sweepstakes casinos were their entry point, and now it’s either go full real-money or not play at all.

We’ve seen talk of VPN use, people driving across state lines to spin, and a general vibe that the casual gaming crowd wasn’t exactly heard on this one.

Where to Go Now After NJ Sweepstakes Ban

The good news? If you’re in NJ or PA, you’ve still got solid alternatives. Licensed apps now offer tons of low-stakes games, free spin bonuses, and promos that mimic what sweepstakes platforms were doing. Here’s a list of the top NJ casino bonuses and PA bonus codes worth grabbing now.

Want the same fun without the legal grey area? You can spin games like Wheel of Fortune slots, 88 Fortunes, and other player favorites without stepping outside the law. The sweepstakes ban wasn’t built to make everyone happy… and it didn’t. But if you’re in NJ and want to play safely, legally, and with bonuses that actually pay out, the door’s still wide open. You just might have to learn a new app or two.