Michigan used to be one of the quiet havens for sweepstakes casinos — but that phase is over. So, if you’ve tried to log into your favorite sweeps site lately and hit a brick wall, that wasn’t a bug. It was policy. Here’s the truth: Michigan doesn’t ban sweepstakes casinos outright. But the state now enforces a legal ceiling that most operators can’t (or won’t) meet. As a result, the list of sites available to you has shrunk fast — and if you want to play smart and legal, your options are minimal.
Let’s break down exactly what’s going on, what you can still access, and how the law views your activity.
Pavle D.
Content Writer
Last updated
16 June 2025
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.
✅ BetRivers.net is your safest bet
⚠ The rest operate in gray zones
🛑 Just because it works today doesn’t mean it’s safe tomorrow
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. |
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
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 Jun, 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 explicitly. Michigan doesn’t have a law that specifically permits or bans sweepstakes casinos. However, the Lawful Internet Gaming Act (LIGA) requires a license for any platform offering games with prizes. If a sweepstakes site lets you win something of value, it may be considered unauthorized gambling.
Michigan has cracked down on sweepstakes casinos that offer real prizes or cash redemptions. That’s why most big-name sweeps sites (like Chumba or LuckyLand) have pulled out. What’s still accessible are social casinos . platforms like BetRivers.net that don’t offer prizes or purchases. These are legal because they don’t cross the threshold into gambling under state law. A few hybrid models, like ZitoBox or Skillz, still work in Michigan, but they operate in a gray zone and could be blocked at any time.
No. Spoofing your location with a VPN is against most site terms and could violate Michigan law. It’s considered a form of fraud in some cases – and you risk getting banned or losing your balance.
Yes. Under MCL §206.30, any gambling or prize winnings – including gift cards or sweep coins – are considered taxable income. You must report them, even if the site doesn’t issue a tax form.
