Deputy Editor
Sweepstakes operators have begun exiting Kentucky. Almost 30 sweepstakes casinos have left the state, though poker operators appear to be sticking around for the moment.
No clear, publicly available driver for the exodus has emerged. If the state has sent cease-and-desist letters, it has not released them publicly. Certainly, the Kentucky legislature has not enacted any anti-sweepstakes laws, unlike some states. Notably, California and New York have both recently passed bans, leaving the industry gasping for air heading into 2026.
The Kentucky exits come not long after a similar set of exits in neighboring Tennessee. Tennessee appeared to target sweepstakes casino operators, and some poker sites were likely collateral damage there.
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Which Sweepstakes Casinos Have Left Kentucky?
According to a tracking sheet provided to PokerScout, 27 operators list Kentucky as out of bounds. Prominent sweepstakes casinos that have left the state include, Stake.us, McLuck, High 5, Sidepot, Fliff, and Thrillz.
Stake.us also operates a sweepstakes poker product. It’s the U.S.-facing arm of the popular international cryptocasino endorsed by Drake. Stake has been the target of lawsuits in other locales, such as Los Angeles.
Poker Operators Remain Operational, Per Listed Terms
While sweepstakes poker operator Stake.us has beat a retreat, other sites remain accessible for Kentucky residents. PokerScout checked the terms and conditions for ClubWPT Gold, Global Poker, and Clubs Poker. All three have yet to list Kentucky among their restricted territories.
The sweepstakes player pool has shrunk in a hurry following legislative pushback in 2025. According to PokerScout’s estimates, the market for such operators was expected to shrink by about 30% following the passage of various bans, as well as sites respecting cease-and-desists.
However, that 30% may end up undershooting the actual hit to the bottom line. Those projections didn’t include Tennessee, Kentucky, Maine, or Indiana. The latter two states introduced legislation to ban sweepstakes sites, though they remain in the early stages.
Together, those states account for approximately 6% of the U.S. population. If sweepstakes operators exit all four, that would push the total lost player pool closer to 40%.
Since online poker relies on liquidity to keep the games healthy, that could seriously impact whether sweepstakes poker sites can even remain functional.
ClubWPT Gold is attempting to pivot its business model to remain compliant in some states, notably announcing it expects to keep operating in California. However, it immediately left New York upon Gov. Kathy Hochul signing a sweepstakes ban into law.
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