Play’n GO Rejects Sweepstakes Casinos, Backs Regulated Gaming

Drawing a Line in the Sand

Play’n GO swore off so-called sweepstakes casinos for good. “Sweepstakes casinos do not operate inside a regulated framework and that’s not something we support. Our commitment to regulated markets is absolute. We will never supply our games to sweepstakes casinos,” said CEO Johan Törnqvist.

This move comes as US regulators and lawmakers turn up the heat on these unregulated platforms, which mimic casino games via sweepstakes models.

The company’s no stranger to taking bold stands. It was the first to nix “bonus buy” games, now banned in the UK and Netherlands, and is pushing hard for a fully regulated gaming world.

Shawn Fluharty, Play’n GO’s Head of Government Affairs, warned that sweepstakes casinos “threaten the regulated market model that many of us in the industry have worked so hard to achieve, which protects players first and foremost, and delivers much-needed revenue to jurisdictions.”

He added a jab at operators cozying up to sweepstakes: “Regulators have long memories—anyone doing business with sweepstakes casinos today will find it very difficult to do business in a future regulated market.”

The Bigger Picture

Sweepstakes casinos, using dual-currency setups like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, dodge traditional gambling licenses, operating in a gray area that’s increasingly under fire.

States like Montana are moving to ban them, and New York’s eyeing similar crackdowns with bills like S5935. Play’n GO’s stance aligns with this shift, prioritizing player safety and state revenue over short-term cash grabs.

“It’s no secret that with this decision—we have been, and continue to leave a lot of money on the table,” said Chief Commercial Officer Magnus Olsson.

The decision’s already paying off. German operator Tipico named Play’n GO a priority partner, boosting its games’ visibility while ditching suppliers that serve both regulated and black markets.

This trend shows operators and regulators, especially in Europe and the US, are leaning toward stricter oversight, rewarding companies like Play’n GO that stick to the rules.

Olsson urged other suppliers to follow suit: “We want to see a fully regulated and sustainable industry that protects players, promotes innovation, and ensures that we actually have an industry in the future.”