Best Michigan sweepstakes casinos in 2025

Michigan used to give sweepstakes players plenty of room, but that space closed quickly once the Michigan Gaming Control Board unelegantly stepped in. If your usual platform suddenly blocked you, you didn’t hit a random access issue. You ran into the MGCB’s enforcement orders in early 2025, when the agency told nine sweepstakes casino sites to stop operating in the state. That shift set the tone for everything that followed.

Julia Cooper

Head of Content

Fact checked by

Kevin V. Velibor N.

Last updated

5 December 2025

Our 5 legal MI sweepstakes casino alternatives for December 2025

1

BetRivers.net

By Jerard V.

BetRivers.net

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Rating by Jerard V.

Sweepcasinos Choice

250 VC

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2

Fliff

By Jerard V.

Fliff

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Rating by Jerard V.

Welcome bonus

600,000 FC

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3

Hard Rock Social Casino

By Jovan I.

Hard Rock Social Casino

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Rating by Jovan I.

Welcome bonus

300,000 GC + 1 HP

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4

Gambino Slots

By Pavle D.

Gambino Slots

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Rating by Pavle D.

Welcome bonus

500,000 GC + 200 free spins

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Note: Why we only list social casinos in Michigan

Some platforms may still allow Michigan players, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe to use. The MGCB has already ordered sweepstakes casinos to stop operating, so any site that sells coin packs or offers cash-linked prizes could disappear overnight.

That’s why all of the sites in our ranking were pulled from our list of the best social casinos. They use a single currency, offer no real-value rewards, and avoid the structure that Michigan just cracked down on. These are the options that remain available when enforcement tightens.

The Legal Sweepstakes Casino Landscape

U.S. Sweeps Casino Summary

Top Social Casino List

America’s Riskiest Sweeps Sites

🏆 Top 5 Legal MI Picks For September 2025 🚫 Big-Name Sweeps Off-Limits In Michigan 🧾 Michigan Sweeps: Key Takeaways 📊 Side-By-Side: Michigan’s Safer Social Options ⚖️ Michigan Law & Sweepstakes Explained 📨 Why Chumba, Stake.us & More Left MI ❗ The Risks If You Keep Playing 🧭 Playing From Outside Michigan: What’s OK 🔮 Will Sweepstakes Casinos Return To MI? 💸 Taxes On Michigan Sweeps Prizes ✅ Michigan Compliance Checklist 🗺️ Michigan Vs. Neighbor States ❓ Michigan Sweeps Casino FAQs

🧾 In a nutshell: What Michigan sweepstakes casino players need to know

✅ BetRivers.net is your safest bet

Built as a pure social casino.
No purchases, no prizes, no cashouts.
Fully compliant with Michigan law.

🛑 Just because it works today doesn’t mean it’s safe tomorrow

Michigan is cracking down on anything resembling prize-based gambling.
Sites with redemptions or dual currencies may disappear overnight.
Only platforms with single, non-cash currencies are built to last.

Side-by-side: Michigan’s best social casino options

All of the operators below are social casinos that still work for players in Michigan. But while they may look similar on the surface, not all of them follow the same rules – or carry the same legal risk.

Some are built purely for entertainment. Others offer prize redemptions, paid coin packs, or skill-based rewards that place them in a legal gray zone. To help you play smart, we’ve broken down exactly how each one works – and how safe it really is to use in Michigan right now.

Site	Can you win prizes?	Can you buy currency?	Risk of being geo-blocked in MI?	Verdict
BetRivers.net	❌ No	❌ No	🟢 None	Fully legal. Pure social play, no cash or prizes.
ZitoBox	✅ Gift cards	✅ Yes	🟠 Medium	Gray area. Redeems for gift cards; dual currency.
Gambino Slots	❌ No	✅ Yes	🟠 Medium	No redemptions, but real purchases.
Games.Skillz	✅ Yes (via skill)	✅ Yes	🟠 Medium	PvP model. Cash prizes via skill games.
Hard Rock Social Casino	❌ No	✅ Yes	🟠 Medium	Unclear. Social play only, but still monetized.

📌 Quick legend:

Prizes: Whether players can win anything of value
Purchases: If users can buy currency or upgrades
Risk in MI: Legal/geolocation risk in Michigan
Verdict: Key summary to help guide safe choices

How MI law treats sweepstakes casinos

There’s no dedicated sweepstakes casino statute in Michigan. But that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. Instead, the state applies a combination of gambling, tax, and internet gaming laws – and most sweeps sites don’t pass the test.

🎯 Lawful Internet Gaming Act (LIGA) – the main wall

This is the law that regulates all online gambling in the state. It’s enforced by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) and requires any site offering online games for prizes to have a license issued by the state.

The catch? No sweepstakes casino has one.
The result? Any prize-based play from a non-licensed operator is considered unauthorized internet gambling.

📖 MCL 432.305(1)

🔗 What makes something “gambling” in Michigan

Michigan law uses a three-part test – if all three apply, it’s gambling:

You risk something (consideration)
The outcome depends on chance
You might win a prize

This is baked into the state’s Penal Code – MCL 750.301 to 750.315.

Most sweepstakes casinos try to skip the “consideration” part by offering free play options, but Michigan doesn’t buy that argument if you can also buy coin packs or unlock advantages with cash.

Why sites like Chumba and Stake.us pulled out

There was no courtroom drama. No high-profile lawsuits. Just a quiet shift – and a clear signal from Michigan regulators.

In December 2023, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) began issuing cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed operators offering prize-based casino-style games to state residents. VGW, the company behind Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, was among the first to receive one.

Rather than fight it, they folded – fast.

By early December 2023, VGW had:

Blocked Michigan users from accessing its platforms
Announced a cutoff for prize redemptions (February 1, 2024)
Fully exited the Michigan market without making much noise

Stake.us and other sweepstakes-style platforms followed shortly after. Some blocked access preemptively, others issued quiet geo-restrictions without explanation. But the trend was unmistakable: Michigan was off the map.

If you still play, here’s the riskYou could lose your balance – instantly

Let’s be clear: you’re unlikely to get arrested for spinning a slot on your phone. But that doesn’t mean you’re safe. Here’s what’s on the line:

You could lose your balance – instantly

Platforms that haven’t blocked Michigan yet might still do it tomorrow.

When they do, your account could be locked, your coins wiped, and your access gone – with no notice and no refund. That’s already happened with Chumba, LuckyLand, and Stake.us in late 2024.

You won’t get support or payouts

Even if you manage to cash out before a shutdown, you’re gambling on more than the slots – you’re gambling on enforcement not catching up before your redemption clears.

If a site blocks Michigan tomorrow, you won’t be able to finish a withdrawal
If your account is flagged, they can cite “jurisdictional breach” and keep your funds
If you complain, there’s no consumer protection – the activity wasn’t legal here to begin with

You have no legal recourse

Let’s say a site ghosts you after you win. You can’t sue in Michigan courts – because you’re asking for help with an activity the state doesn’t authorize.

The MGCB won’t intervene
Regulators won’t mediate
You’re on your own

That includes if you were misled into thinking the site was legal. The state’s position is clear: it’s your job to know the law.

You still owe taxes

Even if a payout is technically illegal under Michigan law, the state still considers it taxable income. You’re on the hook – even if the site was never supposed to serve you in the first place.

Why “just playing” still comes with risk

Bottom line: Michigan probably won’t prosecute casual players. But if you keep playing on unlicensed sites, you’re risking your time, your money, and any hope of support – with zero protection. It’s not just risky. It’s unstable by design.

Can you play from outside Michigan?

Yes – and it’s one of the only real workarounds that’s actually OK. Michigan law applies to what you do while physically inside the state. So if you travel to Indiana, Ohio, or any state that still allows sweepstakes casinos, you’re fine to play there.

Want to know why those states allow it? See our full breakdown:
👉 Why sweepstakes casinos are legal in most states

🚫 Important: Just don’t spoof your location with a VPN. That’s far from clever – it’s likely a violation of the site’s terms, and in some cases, could be treated as fraud under Michigan law.

Are sweeps casinos coming back to Michigan?

Highly unlikely. As of Dec, 2025:

No major sweepstakes operator has applied for a licence in Michigan.
The MGCB has shown no intention of relaxing its stance.
Most legal teams in the industry treat Michigan as a no-go zone.

Unless the law changes or a new court ruling shakes things up, these sites will not be returning. Not this year. Not under this structure.

What about taxes?

Even if you play from another state, if you’re a Michigan resident, the state wants its cut.

Under MCL §206.30, Michigan treats all gambling and prize winnings as taxable income. There’s no minimum threshold.

Win $1 in redeemable Sweeps Coins? That’s income.
Get a $25 Amazon gift card from a daily promo? Also income.
No W-2G? Doesn’t matter – you still have to report it.

💡 Tip: Use Michigan Schedule 1 at tax time. And don’t rely on the platform to send a tax form – many don’t.

Checklist: Staying compliant with Michigan sweepstakes laws

If you’re going to play – play smart. Here’s what to look for before you log in

✅ The site doesn’t offer any cash, crypto, or gift card prizes
✅ No purchase is required to play – and none is available
✅ It’s not geo-blocked in Michigan (yet)
✅ It runs on a single currency (no Sweeps Coins, no dual wallets)
✅ There’s no mention of “redeem,” “withdraw,” or “prize pool” anywhere
✅ The site is operated by a company with a real gaming license (even if not used for this version)
✅ You’re not using a VPN, proxy, or “location trick” to access the site
✅ You’re okay knowing it’s for entertainment only – not real-world rewards

Michigan vs. neighboring states

Compare Michigan with its closest neighbor states

Sweepstakes casino laws in Ohio

Sweepstakes casino laws in Indiana

Sweepstakes casino laws in Wisconsin

Michigan Sweepstakes Casino FAQs

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Michigan?

Not specifically. The State of Michigan does not have a statute either allowing or disallowing sweepstakes casinos. But, technically, any online platform that offers games with prizes must be licensed under the Lawful Internet Gaming Act (LIGA). Since there are no sweepstakes casinos licensed for Michigan, any sites that currently allow you to either win money or redeem prizes could be subjected to gambling regulations as unlicensed gambling.

Can I still play on sweepstakes casinos from Michigan?

Most of the major sweepstakes casinos have already exited Michigan, since being pressured by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). Operators such as Chumba, LuckyLand, and Global Poker left in 2024. The only sites that remain are true social casinos, like BetRivers.net, that don’t offer any prizes and are 100% free play. There are still a few offshoots and hybrids, like ZitoBox and Skillz, that can be accessed, but these sites are in a legal gray area and could also be blocked at any time.

What would happen if I continue playing on unlicensed sweepstakes casinos in Michigan?

You most likely won’t be criminally charged for using these sites, but the consequences have real risk. Websites can shut your account down overnight, losing all your cash and balances, as well as your potential prizes, and any withdrawals you may have been waiting on. If you are using unlicensed sites, you have no recourse under Michigan law and no consumer protection if that does occur.

Can I use a VPN to access unlicensed sweepstakes casinos if I’m in Michigan?

No. Using a VPN to fake your location is a breach of terms for the website, and using a VPN to access unlicensed sites could be regarded as fraud under Michigan law. If you are caught, you could be banned from the sweepstakes casino site, have your winnings forfeited, and have your balance at the site appropriated.

If I live in Michigan, will I be taxed on sweepstakes winnings?

Yes. As outlined in MCL § 206.30, the State of Michigan taxes all gambling and prize winnings as personal income, no matter if that is cash, gift cards, or redeemable Sweeps Coins. There is no minimum threshold, so again, all prizes must be declared on your state tax filing.

What will be the status of my winnings if a site blocks Michigan users?

If a sweepstakes casino closes to Michigan users, any unclaimed winnings may be rejected, and you will have potentially lost out on unclaimed Sweeps Coins or prizes. This occurred when Chumba and LuckyLand ceased operations to Michigan users in 2024. Once a site’s decision is made to cease operations, there is generally no recourse for you or your funds.

Are sweepstakes casinos likely to return to Michigan?

Very unlikely. As of late 2025, no operator has submitted a request for licensure, and there is no indication that the MGCB has any interest in changing its approach. Michigan remains a closed market for prize-based sweepstakes casinos at this point — only pure social casinos are presently safe and legal.

About the Author

Julia Cooper •

Head of Content

Meet Julia, our head of content at Sweepcasinos.com. She’s behind a big number of successful content campaigns and is currently in charge of the content strategy as well as ensuring that the articles published will always be high-quality and engaging to read. Julia’s real skill lies in her ability to craft captivating stories. She encourages teamwork, creativity and an open communication landscape to bring out the best in everyone. Working at and with big some of the biggest content writing firms, Julia has gained insight into what different strategies that sites and companies use. She’s likely to have the answer to any questions you would have regarding content strategies and writing. In her free time, Julia enjoys climbing and photography. Often combining the two, with stunning photographs of climbing environments that sometimes can be found posted on her Instagram.

Other Sources

Michigan Gaming Control Board. (2024, January 18). Michigan gaming control board sends cease-and-desist letters to US, international internet gaming companies due to illegal operations. Link

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