Ruby Sweeps Ends Sweepstakes Play in Arizona

Ruby Sweeps has ended its sweepstakes gaming operations in Arizona as of September 5, joining a list of 19 excluded states in response to increased regulatory scrutiny of online sweepstakes casinos nationwide.

Although Ruby Sweeps never received a formal cease-and-desist order from Arizona regulators—unlike competitors Thrillzz, Fliff, Betty Sweeps, and Pulsz, which exited following official notices—the company still decided to pull out, likely to preempt future enforcement or avoid regulatory risk.

Ruby Sweeps has a record of restricting access in states with active crackdowns or legal uncertainty. 

Its list of excluded states now includes Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Utah, West Virginia, and Washington. Some states, like Ohio, are on the excluded list due to proposed legislation or long-standing legal ambiguity, even if regulatory action has stalled.

Ruby Sweeps Maintains Social Casino Play in Excluded States

Despite these restrictions, Ruby Sweeps continues to offer social casino gaming (Gold Coins, not redeemable) in excluded jurisdictions, mirroring a strategy used by other operators like VGW. The shutdown affects sweepstakes play only, where players use Emeralds to play for prizes. 

Ruby Sweeps’ cautious approach shows how regulatory pressure, even indirect, can drive operators to voluntarily leave markets and tighten their geographic focus, highlighting the widespread impact of state-level actions on the sweepstakes casino industry.

In Arizona, this trend has been magnified by the Department of Gaming’s broader cease-and-desist initiative launched in April 2025, targeting multiple unlicensed sweepstakes casinos and sports betting operators. The ADG made it clear that any form of illegal gambling, regardless of its platform or structure, will not be tolerated, reinforcing why operators like Ruby Sweeps have opted to exit preemptively rather than risk enforcement under Arizona’s strict regulatory framework.

References

• Arizona Department of Gaming 
• Ruby Sweeps