Hey California, New York, and Tennessee crew - plus any other states in the same boat - you already know about legal regulations heating up in the sweeps world. New regulations are going into effect on 1/1/26, and the sweepstakes casino model will be banned in our states. As we approach the curtain call, there are some things you'll want to do! We've written this quick guide to help you check off all the boxes and maximize your value before sweepstakes casinos shut down in your state. We'll also cover plans for your next side hustle opportunities after the ban! Long story short - you should stick around!
Make Hay While the Sun Shines!
If you're reading this before the new year, this is your window to take advantage of what's still live! If you have welcome offers, sales, or a few SC sitting in an account, now is the time to take advantage of it!
After the sweepstakes ban, welcome offers are going to start looking a lot juicier than they did when they were abundant! You'll want to be taking advantage of all the remaining welcome offers available to you, and checking SweepsGrail.com for any new casinos you may have missed - even in these closing days, you still might have time to sign up and squeeze out a few bonuses.
Top Sweepstakes Casinos to Check Out Before the Ban
For example, at the time of writing this guide, these casinos all remain accessible for sweepstakes play and redemptions in California. And they've all got BIG welcome offers and first purchase bonuses!
Most of these sites are still offering 50% to 100% first-purchase bonuses, daily login bonuses, and extra free SC links. Signups and redemptions are still functioning as usual at the time of writing, but availability may change as we near these last days until January 1st.
Squeeze Out Every Last Penny!
Don't forget to double check all of your sites - even if you just have a few SC, it's worth finding a game and spinning them through. Small balances can be a lucky bonus away from a redemption - and if not, sometimes you just need to pair them with a small sale or even a 1:1 coin pack to make a profitable redemption.
Keep in mind:
- Gift card redemptions often start at 10-15 SC minimum redemption! Take advantage of the low redemption threshold!
- Cash redemptions may require slightly higher balances
- Don't leave balances unused!
A small purchase to push over a minimum can make the difference between redeeming and losing that value entirely.
New Legal Casino Frameworks Operating in California and New York
If you're searching for a Crown Coins alternative or the next McLuck, look no further! New casino models are already making their way into California and New York operating under new legal frameworks. The first example of this is CardCrush, a McLuck sister site that operates using digital trading cards and daily tournaments as a means to legally provide service in states where sweepstakes are restricted. Players purchase these virtual collectibles, which come bundled with Mystery Coins that can be used to play casino-style games that can award real cash prizes. This model is very similar to the sweepstakes model, in that the player is purchasing virtual collectibles (gold coins) and being awarded the Mystery Coins (SC) as a free bonus.
Sports Betting, Arbitrage, and Bonus Conversion Strategies
As sweepstakes casinos phase out, many players are shifting attention to sports betting with daily fantasy sites, prediction markets, as well as regulated sportsbooks.
This is where strategies like hedging welcome offers and arbitrage betting come into play. Find our full list of reputable sportsbooks here. Whether you're a sports fan or not, there is a ton of value in these welcome offers! Plus, many of them offer promos like no sweat bets, or free picks - essentially another freebie to add to your list! Get it!
These sports platforms often offer huge sign-up bonuses, and bonus bets that can be mathematically converted into real cash with minimal risk when done correctly. Pay attention to playthrough requirements - but sportsbooks provide a ton of bonus value, and should be the next step for sweepstakes side hustlers looking for value! These are worth learning about!
Casinos Like Stake.us? Crypto Casinos Still Going Strong
If you're looking for casinos like Stake.us, there are plenty of non-sweepstakes casinos, and crypto casinos that don't rely on the sweepstakes model available. That side of the market remains very active!
Crypto casinos operate outside the sweeps framework entirely and typically allow:
- Instant crypto deposits and withdrawals
- Provably fair games
- Accept various Cryptocurrencies, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, USDT, SOL, and more
- Some can be played without any fuss, while some require a simple VPN to access. Check out this page to get your VPN service set up in 5 minutes for less than $5!
One of the most popular alternatives in the Crypto Casino space is Wild.io, a crypto casino that offers a similar experience to casinos like Stake.us, MyPrize.us, and Shuffle.us, including live dealer games, daily crypto faucets, and instant crypto withdrawals.
Wild.io's sleek mobile interface for crypto casino gaming
Another platform is Bovada.lv - this one doesn't require a VPN, and will actually accept Crypto or Credit Cards. Bovada has been around since 2011 and has been my personal go-to for sports betting, slots, and blackjack for over a decade.
For players comfortable with cryptocurrency, these platforms aren't going anywhere. Get to know them!
We're in This Together
No matter what, our community exists to provide you with value from a trusted source. As sweepstakes casinos wind down and new models take their place, we'll keep you updated with the best methods to keep redemptions and withdrawals coming.
Stick with us at SweepsGrail.com, the subreddit r/SweepstakesSideHustle and backup sub r/SweepsFreebies, and of course the Discord as we move through this transitional phase of regulations. More to come!