Stake.us Legal States in June 2026

Stake.us is currently available in 30 states, the continental US, and Hawaii. It’s restricted in 20 as of June 2026. It operates as a sweepstakes casino using Gold Coins for standard play and Stake Cash for promotional sweepstakes play. That’s why players can access the casino in states where real-money casino gambling is illegal in the US.

Below is the full state-by-state breakdown, recent regulatory changes, and what those changes mean for players who want to play Stake in the US.

Check If Your State Is Open to Stake.us and Join Now!

Play Now*T&Cs Apply

Check If Your State Is Open to Stake.us and Join Now!

Play Now*T&Cs Apply

It might not be available in as many states as other sweepstakes casinos but it's most well known in the US.

Which States is Stake Legal in the US?

The table below shows which Stake.us legal states are. This is in accordance with Stake.us's Terms and Conditions as of June2026. 

*Available means available under the site's sweepstakes model, not licensed as a real-money online casino. That distinction matters. Some states without regulated real-money online casinos, including sweepstakes casinos in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina, are still on the current legal states list, while some regulated online casino states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Connecticut, are restricted by Stake.us. 

Several regulated online casino states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Connecticut, are still restricted by Stake.us. At the same time, the current Stake US states map still includes places such as Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina, where real-money online casinos are not licensed.

If you’d like a more comprehensive overview, you can refer to our Stake.us review.

Recent Changes That Affect Users Today

Stake.us's own terms show how quickly the map changed. The version history lists 15 versions since July 2022, with Versions 9 through 15 all updating the excluded-state list during 2025. Stake’s Help Center also says the current exclusions are due to state regulations.

Three enacted 2025 laws are directly relevant:

1. California enacted AB 831 on October 11, 2025, which prohibits operating or supporting online sweepstakes games in the state. 
2. New York's S5935A was signed by the Governor in 2025, prohibiting online sweepstakes games. 
3. New Jersey enacted P.L. 2025, c.128 (A5447), approved August 15, 2025.

Maryland saw anti-sweepstakes legislation proposed in 2025 and 2026 (including SB 860), but as of April 2026 there is no official record of it becoming enacted law. 

Louisiana's SB 181 was vetoed by the Governor. Both states are excluded under Stake's own terms decision, not a passed statute.

How is Stake Legal in My State?

The short answer is Stake.us isn't a real-money casino. It runs on a dual-currency sweepstakes model that sits outside most state gambling laws. Here's how that works and why "available" doesn't mean "licensed."

1. Stake.us has a dual-currency setup

Instead of gambling with real money, players at Stake.us are able to play with two forms of alternative currency:

• Gold Coins: used for standard play and cannot be redeemed for value. 
• Stake Cash: usually given away as promotions and can be redeemed for prizes. 
• That is the core of the Stake.us sweepstakes casino legal states model and the reason some of the states where stake is legal under this system do not match the usual online casino map.

No purchase is required to play, and buying Gold Coins doesn't increase your chance of winning Stake Cash. That free-entry route is the alternative method of entry, or AMOE, and it's the legal hinge on which the whole model works.

2. It’s legal but not licensed like a real money casino

Stake.us is available in some states where real-money online casinos are not legal, including Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. That doesn’t mean the site is licensed there, as a regulated online casino would be. No US state licenses sweepstakes casinos the same way it licenses real-money casino operators. Stake.us operates wherever its sweepstakes model is still allowed under current state law, not because it holds a casino license.

3. The standard gambling test doesn’t apply (yet)

Most states define gambling using three elements: a prize, an element of chance, and consideration (paying to play). Stake.us has the first two. Sweepstakes operators argue that the third is missing because players never have to pay. Stake Cash can be earned through daily login bonuses, giveaways, and a postcard request laid out in the Terms.

4. Federal sweepstakes law provides the broader legal framework

The FTC has long established that a promotion is not a lottery if it offers a genuine no-purchase method of entry. That federal precedent is what sweepstakes operators lean on when operating in states that have not explicitly banned the model, because it sits above individual state gambling statutes. It is also why Stake.us publishes its postcard AMOE in the Terms rather than treating it as a footnote.

5. It’s legal for now but that can change

That legal theory is facing more pressure now than it did a few years ago. Attorney general offices and regulators in multiple states have argued that sweepstakes casinos function as de facto gambling even when they use dual currencies and no-purchase language. That pressure is one of the main reasons the excluded-state list has grown. 

Why isn't Stake Legal in My State?

Stake.us has recently restricted states as a result of legal laws. Enforcement pressure has mattered too, including cease-and-desist action against online sweepstakes casinos in states that now take a harder view of the model. Within it’s terms and conditions: 

Section 2.1 lists the excluded territories, and if your state appears there (Washington, New York, Nevada, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland, Louisiana, Montana, Arizona, Tennessee, or California) the site states you are not eligible to access the platform, create an account, or play the games. 

Section 2.2 goes further and specifies that if someone in an excluded territory proceeds anyway, Stake treats that as a material misrepresentation, a fraudulent inducement of its services, and a violation of the Terms. For anyone checking the current Stake.us legal states map, that is the first place to look.

The answer also changes over time. Stake's version history shows 15 published Terms versions since July 2022, with versions 9 through 15 each adding one or more excluded states in 2025. That’s why some players who were once able to play Stake in the US from a given state can no longer do so now. It is also the real answer behind many 'Stake not available in US' searches: if your state is in the current excluded territories clause, the site is not available there today. If you’re currently unable to access Stake.us you can refer to some Stake alternatives.

If you are in a blocked state, visiting Stake.us will not let you register or access games. 

For readers trying to understand which Stake US legal states are, the most reliable source is the platform's current excluded-states clause, not an older third-party list.

Can I Use a VPN to Play at Stake.us?

No, under Stake.us's Terms, users must not reside in or access the platform from an excluded territory, and any attempt to circumvent those restrictions by masking or manipulating their real location through a VPN, proxy, or similar service is a breach of the Terms. Stake also indicates that such conduct may amount to fraud.

Here’s what that looks like in practice at Stake.us: 

• Geolocation is not just a billing address check: Stake's Privacy Policy states that the site collects device information such as hardware model, device type, unique device identifiers, operating system version, browser type, and IP address. The same policy also says it collects precise geolocation as sensitive personal information. So when readers ask, "What states is stake us legal in?" the answer depends on where the player is actually accessing the platform from, not just the address saved on the account.
• Problems usually hit at verification or redemption, not sign up: A player may be able to visit the site, open an account, or even play for a while. The trouble usually starts when Stake checks identity, address, payment details, and location more closely. Its Terms state that users must provide true and complete information, cooperate with investigations, and not access the platform from an excluded territory.
• A restricted-state scenario can unravel fast: A player in a blocked state uses a VPN, signs in, and starts playing. Later, they try to verify the account or redeem Stake Cash. Stake requests ID and proof of address, checks account details against location and device data, and concludes the player accessed from an excluded territory or used a service to hide that location. At that point, the account can be flagged, KYC can fail, and the redemption can stall or never clear.
• The Terms give Stake broad room to act: Stake declares it may suspend or deactivate an account for attempts to bypass excluded-territory restrictions, including VPN or proxy use. It also indicates it may withhold all or part of the balance and recover Prizes, Gold Coins, or Stake Cash tied to that conduct. That is why trying to play Stake in the US from a blocked state is not just a sign-up risk. It can put the whole account at risk.
• If you travel, physical location is what matters: The Terms say users can't access from an excluded territory. If a player lives in Florida but logs in while physically in New York, New York is what counts at that moment. That's also the real answer behind many "Stake not available in US" searches.

A VPN is not a workaround here. Under Stake's own rules, it is a Terms violation that can lead to a failed KYC check, a suspended account, and the loss of redeemable Stake Cash or other balances. 

Stake.us vs Stake.com

Stake.us and Stake.com share a name, but they are not the same product, just dressed differently. 

Stake.us is the US-facing sweepstakes site operated by Sweepsteaks Limited. It uses Gold Coins for standard play and Stake Cash for promotional sweepstakes play. 

Stake.com is operated by Medium Rare N.V. and runs as a real-money casino and sportsbook under a separate legal and licensing model. 

That difference is the reason Stake.us legal states are even a question in the first place.

For readers trying to figure out whether they can play Stake in the US, the practical point is simple. Stake.us is the site built around the US sweepstakes model. Stake.com is not.

Welcome Package

560K GC + 56 Stake Cash + 5% Rakeback

Full welcome package acquired after 31 days

Claim Bonus

No Deposit Bonus

20K Gold Coins + 25 Stake Cash

Get your no-deposit bonus and try out unique Stake in-house games

Claim Bonus

Daily Login Bonus

10,000 GC + 1 SC

The Daily Reload Bonus of 1 Sweeps Coin and 10K GC is yours every 24 hours

Claim Bonus

How to Register at Stake.us in Your State

Stake.us requires full identity verification before you can redeem Stake Cash. The minimum age is 21. If your state is on the list of available states, here is how to get set up. 

Step 1: Go to Stake.us and click Register.

You can sign up with an email address or use the Google, Facebook, or Twitch login options.

Step 2: Enter your account details.

You will need your full legal name, date of birth, permanent address, email address, username, and password. Enter these exactly as they appear on the ID you plan to use for verification. Mismatches at this stage cause delays later.

Step 3: Submit your identity document.

Stake accepts a driver's license or other government-issued ID that contains your residential address. Proof of address may also be requested. Screenshots, paper copies, and temporary documents are not accepted.

Stake.us uses Veriff, a third-party facial recognition technology. You will be asked to take a live photo of your document and a live selfie, which is matched against your ID. Have your physical ID in hand before starting this step.

Step 4: Wait for verification to complete.

Stake uses third-party service providers for identity checks. Stake does not publish a fixed turnaround time, but its help content describes the process as quick for most accounts.

If additional documents are requested, you have 30 days to provide them before Stake may restrict the account. Redemption requests remain pending until verification is complete.

Step 5: Make sure your payment method matches your account name.

The payment method used for Gold Coin purchases must be in your name and legally owned by you. If the name on your account and the name on your payment method differ, the account will be suspended immediately.

Step 6: Enable two-factor authentication before your first redemption.

Stake strongly recommends enabling multi-factor authentication. The setup steps are in the security settings section of your account. If 2FA is not enabled, Stake sends a verification code by email instead.

Stake.us State-Specific Redemption Rules

A few redemption rules matter more than the rest.

1. Only Stake Cash can be redeemed for prizes: Gold Coins cannot be redeemed for value. Stake.us also clarifies that Stake Cash cannot be purchased directly, although it may be included as a bonus with certain Gold Coin packages.
2. Bonus Stake Cash comes with a 3x playthrough requirement: Stake.us declares that, except for Stake Cash won through promotional play itself, customers must play their Stake Cash three times before it becomes eligible for redemption. In practice, that means Stake Cash received as a bonus alongside a Gold Coin purchase is not instantly redeemable.
3. The payment rail you use is locked in while any Stake Cash balance remains: If you purchase Gold Coins using fiat currency, you must also redeem Stake Cash using fiat. If you purchase using cryptocurrency, you must redeem in cryptocurrency. You cannot switch between fiat and crypto for either purchases or redemptions while any Stake Cash balance remains in your account. Only once that balance reaches zero can you elect a different currency path.
4. Only one redemption request is processed per account per 24-hour period: Additional identity verification can also cause delays; Stake accepts no liability for delays arising from those checks.
5. Florida has a published state-specific cap: Stake.us says that in Florida, the maximum redemption value of Stake Cash won on any game or play through participation in the sweepstakes is $5,000 per day. Any redemption above that amount will not be allocated or paid. This is the clearest state-specific cap published in the Terms.
6. Redemptions can still slow down at the last step: Stake.us specifies that it will process only one prize redemption request per customer account in any 24-hour period, and additional verification may delay the request.

Tax treatment

Stake.us specifies that customers are solely responsible for any taxes on prizes and does not provide formal tax advice. For the 2026 tax year, the IRS reporting threshold for Form 1099-MISC has increased to $2,000 following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Players should keep in mind that Stake Cash redemptions are still generally considered taxable income; maintaining diligent records is essential, as redemptions below the $2,000 reporting limit are not automatically tax-exempt.

Where to Play if Stake.us Isn't Available in Your State?

If Stake.us is not available in your state, the next step is to compare other sweepstakes brands that still allow access under their current rules. McLuck, Pulsz, and WOW Vegas are among the alternatives covered on the sweepstakes casino hub.

For readers working through the full stake legal states picture, it helps to know which alternatives cover the specific states Stake.us does not, and what states are stake legal in if they want another option.

Always check availability against each operator's current terms and help pages on the day of sign-up, as these lists change.