Delaware Sweepstakes Casinos: What's Left in 2026

Delaware sweepstakes casinos & the law in 2026

Heads up if you’re playing from Delaware: No ban here, but you’re locked out anyway. An April 2025 enforcement order did what no law had to, and the door slammed in a single move. A ban needs lawmakers; an order just needs a regulator who’s done waiting.

Our page walks you through why Delaware came down so hard, what you can legally play instead, and the operators who already pulled out on their own.

Nemanja M.

Content Writer

Fact checked by

Kevin V. Velibor N.

Last updated

10 June 2026

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Delaware?

To put it bluntly, sweepstakes casinos are having a hard time reaching you from within Delaware. Most major brands won’t let you sign up, the reason tracing back to one April 2025 enforcement order. The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) spent two years building a case against VGW (Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Global Poker), then shut down its Delaware operations in a single move. VGW withdrew within days, and 30 more operators followed.

The DGE didn’t act alone. The Delaware State Lottery, which runs the state’s licensed online casinos, backed the move and pushed the regulator to act. Sweepstakes weren’t pushed out for breaking a new law. They were pushed out for competing with one. The Delaware Penal Code and the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 are what made it stick.

Below, we walk through what Delaware did and where it leaves you today.

Legal overview

Can I play in Delaware right now?	Almost never. Most major brands block Delaware at signup.
What action did the state take?	A cease-and-desist order against VGW in April 2025. The company withdrew within days.
How many operators have left?	More than 30 since 2023, including all VGW brands (Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Global Poker).
Which agency handled it?	The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), under the state’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
What’s the main law?	The Delaware Penal Code (11 Del. C. §§ 1401-1411), which makes unauthorized operating gambling a crime.
What other law applies?	The Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 (29 Del. C. Ch. 48), which created the state’s licensed online casino market.
What’s the operator penalty?	Class A misdemeanor: up to one year imprisonment and a $2,300 fine.
Why is Delaware acting this hard?	The state runs a licensed online casino through the Delaware State Lottery, and the DGE treats unlicensed sweepstakes operators as competitors.
Did the lottery back the enforcement?	Yes. The Delaware State Lottery publicly supported the 2025 VGW action.
Have representatives tried to pass a specifc ban?	No. Delaware has handled sweepstakes entirely through agency enforcement.

Your situation as a player

Will I get in trouble for playing?	No. Delaware’s gambling statutes target operators, not players.
Does Delaware have a player penalty on paper?	No. The Penal Code criminalizes “advancing gambling,” not participating in it.
Can I find a site that accepts Delaware?	Very few. Most major brands block Delaware at signup.
What about the sites that still accept Delaware?	They operate at high regulatory risk and may be pulled out at any time.
What can I legally play instead?	The Delaware State Lottery’s licensed online casino, run through Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway.
What else is legal here?	The state lottery itself and licensed sports betting.
Will a VPN help?	No. Sites verify location at every login and close accounts that hop.
Does a VPN affect my legal exposure?	Yes, it adds to it. Spoofing your location can create additional liability.
Do I owe taxes on winnings?	Yes, federal and state. Federal tax applies to all winnings (report on Schedule 1). Delaware also taxes them as income at up to 6.6%; see the Delaware Division of Revenue for filing.