Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has told 14 online gambling operators including social sweepstakes casinos and offshore sportsbooks—to stop serving Minnesotans.
In letters sent on November 5, 2025, Ellison said the sites may violate state consumer-protection laws and urged them to change course or leave the market. The action follows a June warning from public safety officials and comes as Minnesota continues to ban online casino gaming and sports betting.
The Attorney General’s Office posted copies of the letters and a list of the affected operators so residents could see exactly which brands were flagged and why the state considers their offers unlawful.
Why the Attorney General Stepped In
Ellison’s office says some websites present themselves as entertainment platforms where players buy virtual coins and play casino-style games. But when those “Sweeps Coins” can be redeemed for cash, the state may consider it illegal gambling rather than harmless fun.
Officials argue this creates confusion because the sweepstakes sites often market themselves nationwide, which can make Minnesotans think online gambling is allowed in the state when it is not.
The letters also warn about unregulated operators that have no licensing in Minnesota, no mandatory audits, and limited accountability if they refuse to pay winnings or close accounts without clear reasons.
Beyond the gambling question, the notices frame the issue as a consumer-protection problem. According to the Attorney General, these businesses may use advertising and game design that blur the line between entertainment and gambling.
That can lead to financial losses for people who assumed they were playing on legal, regulated platforms. The state also points to the risk of data misuse, unclear complaint processes, and a lack of tools that regulated markets use like deposit limits and self-exclusion—to reduce harm.
Ellison’s message is that until the law changes, companies must either comply with Minnesota rules or stop targeting Minnesota residents altogether.
Which Sites Were Warned
The Attorney General’s Office says it contacted 14 operators. The list includes VG LuckyLand, Zula Casino, and Fortune Coins brands tied to social sweepstakes casinos—along with several offshore sportsbooks and casinos, with the complete list being:
- VG LuckyLand
- Zula Casino
- Fortune Coins
- Bovada
- BetOnline
- MyBookie
- XBet
- BetUS
- BetNow
- BetWhale
- EveryGame Sportsbook
- Slotsandcasino
- Sportsbetting.com
- BetAnySports
Each letter tells the operator to stop offering online gambling in Minnesota or change its model to fit state law. The office posted sample letters tailored to sweepstakes-style sites and to traditional sportsbooks or casinos, explaining the legal concerns and the actions the state expects the companies to take.
For players, the inclusion of both sweepstakes-style brands and well-known offshore books is important. It signals that Minnesota is looking at how the products actually work, not just how they are labeled.
If a site lets users convert virtual items into cash or prizes, or if it takes bets on sports without state authorization, the state is likely to view that as illegal. The letters aim to put operators on notice and to inform the public that these brands are not authorized to serve Minnesotans.
What Minnesota Law Allows and What Players Should Know
Minnesota still prohibits online casino gaming and sports betting. What remains allowed are long-standing options such as licensed charitable gambling, pari-mutuel horse racing, the Minnesota Lottery, and tribal gaming. Because unregulated websites do not undergo state oversight, players who use them have fewer protections.
If an offshore site withholds a payout, freezes an account, or shuts down, there is no guaranteed path to a refund through Minnesota regulators. That is one reason the Attorney General is urging residents to be careful and to use only activities that are clearly legal under state law.
If someone believes they were misled or harmed by an illegal site, the state encourages them to file a complaint with the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division or the Attorney General’s Office. Minnesotans who are struggling with their play can also seek help through state-supported problem gambling resources.
The bottom line is simple: until lawmakers create a regulated online market, internet gambling offered by unlicensed companies remains unlawful in Minnesota. Ellison’s letters mark a stronger enforcement step and a clear signal that the state expects operators to either comply or leave.
