Michigan used to be a quiet stronghold for sweepstakes players. That window’s closing. If your usual site suddenly froze you out, it wasn’t a glitch — it was the new legal ceiling kicking in.
Some of the sites above are still open to Michigan players – for now. But availability doesn’t guarantee compliance. Platforms offering prize redemptions, dual currencies, or paid coin packs could exit the state with little notice.
If you’re playing on a site that mixes gameplay with purchases or rewards, you risk losing access – and anything tied to your account – overnight.
💡 Our advice: Stick with social casinos that use a single, non-purchasable currency and don’t offer real prizes. Those are built to stay, even when enforcement ramps up.
Big-name sweeps sites you can’t use in Michigan
✅ BetRivers.net is your safest bet
⚠ The rest operate in gray zones
🛑 Just because it works today doesn’t mean it’s safe tomorrow
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.
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.
Michigan law uses a three-part test – if all three apply, it’s gambling:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Highly unlikely. As of Sep, 2025:
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.
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.
💡 Tip: Use Michigan Schedule 1 at tax time. And don’t rely on the platform to send a tax form – many don’t.
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
Compare Michigan with its closest neighbor states
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.