Lucky.me stopped accepting Arkansas players on Nov. 9 and gave registered customers until Nov. 15 to redeem eligible Sweeps Coins balances. The withdrawal was presented to users as a response to newly enacted state legislation that prohibits sweepstakes-style casino platforms.
That explanation is difficult to reconcile with Arkansas legislative records, which do not appear to show a 2026 law specifically banning sweepstakes casinos, according to Deadspin. The departure therefore does not establish that Arkansas has enacted a statewide prohibition, nor that all such operators have left the state.
A related 2025 proposal, Senate Bill 524, would have made certain illegal online casino operations a felony while creating an interactive-gaming framework. Its author withdrew the measure on March 20, 2025, and it never became law.
The move comes shortly after Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued VGW on Nov. 4, alleging that its sweepstakes platforms violate state gambling laws and the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The case targets VGW, operator of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Casino and Global Poker, rather than Lucky.me or Stake.us, and there is no confirmed public evidence that it directly caused either company’s exit.
Griffin’s complaint challenges the promotional-currency structure under which customers may purchase Gold Coins and receive Sweeps Coins as bonuses, then use the latter for casino-style games and potentially redeem eligible winnings for cash prizes. The attorney general is seeking restitution, penalties, taxes and injunctive relief.
Stake.us separately plans to leave Arkansas on Dec. 7, as we reported on Nov. 12.
