The CEO of BetMGM, Adam Greenblatt, has come out against sweepstakes casinos in a new interview.
BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt Opposes Sweepstakes Casinos
During a Q&A with The Closing Line, Greenblatt stated that the gaming platforms should be made illegal, and he is “delighted” that states are finally taking action.
In recent months, U.S. territories such as California, New York, New Jersey, and others have passed bills to outlaw sweepstakes casinos. Connecticut also joined Montana last month in banning the online platforms when Gov. Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 1235 into law.
Speaking in the interview, Greenblatt said:
“Look, we’re pretty clear — or we are clear that we believe sweeps should be illegal iGaming, and it’s bad for the regulated sector. It’s bad for state revenues. It’s bad for players.
“And so, we are delighted to see lots of states now — increasingly, not lots, increasingly states adopting just legislation against the sweeps industry, which — what we would love to see and what we are certainly advocating for is more regulated iGaming states, I think BetMGM more than anyone stands to gain relatively most in the event that it happens. And we fully anticipate, over time, that to happen.
“But the message to our lawmakers is the sweeps activity is happening anyway. As I’ve said, the good guys aren’t benefiting. And so, we would like to see that situation unwind and in fact reverse.”
VGW, Stake.us To Exit More States
Sweepstakes casinos are exiting several states amid regulatory pressure.
Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), the operator of three sweepstakes casinos — Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and LuckyLand Slots — said it would cease all sweeps promotions in New Jersey after the passage of bill A5447.
Stake.us also announced that it’s pulling out of three more states: Louisiana, Montana, and Arizona. The platform added Louisiana and Montana to the Terms & Conditions as “Excluded Territories” on July 14.
Sweeps users in Arizona will be able to play at Stake.us until August 12.
Here’s the full list of states that Stake.us has exited:
- Washington
- New York
- Nevada
- Idaho
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Vermont
- New Jersey
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- Maryland
- Louisiana
- Montana
- Arizona (August 12)
California Lawmakers Advanced Assembly Bill 831
Earlier this month, the California Senate Public Safety Committee unanimously advanced Assembly Bill 831, a measure that would outlaw sweepstakes casino operators in the Golden State.
The bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, said the measure helps close a loophole that online platforms like sweepstakes casinos and social casinos use to offer casino-style games via a dual-currency model.
“We cannot look the other way while these platforms exploit legal grey areas,” Valencia said in a statement. “These operations undermine the voter-approved framework that affirms Tribal governments’ sovereign right to conduct gaming in California. AB 831 strengthens that framework and ensures gaming in California remains fair and accountable.”
The California legislative session runs until Sept. 12, but bills can carry over into the 2026 session.