Comparisons · Casino

Online Casino Comparison

Regulated, state-licensed online casinos and the sweepstakes-casino model compared on structure, RTP range, and legal access — not ranked against each other, and with no promotional links to sweepstakes operators. See why, below.

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What This Page Is (And Isn't)

This is a structural comparison, not an odds or RTP price feed. OddsReference does not have live RTP data — the figures here are published, audited averages cited from our own platform reviews and, where noted, state gaming-commission data. We do not fabricate RTP numbers, payout percentages, or "best value" scores for any operator. See our Editorial Policy.

Advertising disclosure: This page may contain links to third-party platforms. Where OddsReference has an active, disclosed partnership with a platform, we may earn a commission if you click a link and complete a qualifying action — at no extra cost to you. Affiliate status has no bearing on our data, rankings, or editorial conclusions. See our Affiliate Disclosure and Editorial Policy for details.

01 — REGULATED

Regulated iCasino Operators

Real-money, state-licensed operators. Available only in the states listed — confirm your state before assuming access.

Feature DraftKings FanDuel BetMGM Caesars Golden Nugget Borgata
States (of the 5 mature multi-operator markets) NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT
All 5
 NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT
All 5
 NJ, PA, MI, WV
No CT
 NJ, PA, MI, WV
No CT
 NJ, PA, MI, WV
No CT; DraftKings subsidiary
 NJ, PA
BetMGM/MGM sister brand
Welcome bonus playthrough 15x-25x 1x
Lowest in the US market
 15x-25x 10x-20x Set separately from DraftKings Set separately from BetMGM
Payout speed (Play+/instant methods) Near-instant
Bank/PayPal 24-48h
 Near-instant
Bank/PayPal 24-48h
 Trails DK/FD by 12-48h Comparable to BetMGM Comparable to BetMGM Comparable to BetMGM
Notable strength Largest combined library
Includes Golden Nugget titles
 Strongest Evolution live-dealer integration Deepest table-game variety + MGM Rewards Caesars Rewards cross-property loyalty Exclusive titles predating DK acquisition Shares BetMGM catalog; NJ brand recognition

Average slot RTP across these operators is reported in the ~95-96% range in our review, with individual titles varying from 88% to 99%+ — always check the published RTP for a specific game before extended play.

02 — MODEL

Sweepstakes Casino vs. Regulated iCasino: The Structural Difference

Two different legal frameworks producing a similar player experience with different odds, access, and oversight.

Feature Sweepstakes Casino Regulated iCasino
RTP range ~88-96%
Often undisclosed
 90-97%
Published by state regulators
Legal access ~44 states
Per our sweepstakes legal-states tracker
 7 states
NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT, RI, DE
Game variety 200-800 titles typical 500-2,000+ titles
Max bet per spin $5-50 in Sweeps Coins $500-5,000+ depending on game
Regulatory oversight None or self-regulated State gaming commission
Withdrawal speed 4-10 business days 24-72 hours (most platforms)

Sweepstakes platforms use a dual-currency model (purchased Gold Coins for play, free promotional Sweeps Coins redeemable for cash) that lets them operate without a state gambling license in most states. The gameplay is often functionally similar to a licensed casino game, but the legal classification, oversight, and RTP transparency are not. See our full structural comparison for the per-hour cost math.

03 — LEGALITY

Sweepstakes Casino State Restrictions

The regulatory trend for sweepstakes casinos is toward more restriction, not less.

Feature Status
Banned / blocked (9 states) CA (AB 831), CT, MT, NJ, NV, WA, ID, MI, NY
Active enforcement (8 states) LA, WV, TN, MD, AZ, MN, KY, MS

California's AB 831 (effective January 2026) is the most aggressive action to date — it extends criminal liability beyond operators to "media affiliates" who knowingly and willfully promote sweepstakes platforms to California residents. That is a direct, load-bearing reason this page does not carry sweepstakes-casino promotional links (see below).

Why This Page Doesn't Link to Sweepstakes-Casino Operators

OddsReference has no active affiliate partnership with any casino operator — regulated or sweepstakes (see our Affiliate Disclosure). Independent of that, this page's editorial position is to describe the sweepstakes-casino model for factual comparison only, without "Visit Site" or bonus-claim links, for three reasons documented above and elsewhere on this site:

  • The legal ground has shifted quickly — California's AB 831 carries personal liability for promoting sweepstakes platforms, and the list of states banning or restricting the model has grown through 2026.
  • Sweepstakes platforms are not required to disclose RTP the way regulated operators are, which makes an apples-to-apples "best value" claim impossible to substantiate honestly.
  • OddsReference's core product is data-driven price comparison. A sweepstakes-casino promotional CTA sitting next to that product is a mismatch we'd rather not make, regardless of near-term revenue.

Regulated iCasino tabs bundled inside an existing DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, or Caesars account are a meaningfully different legal and audience situation — but OddsReference does not have an active partnership with any of them either, so no CTA appears above for those either. This section will be updated if that changes.

04 — TOOLS

Run Your Own Numbers

View all tools
Interactive Tool

Expected Loss Calculator

Session cost by RTP, bet size, and spins per hour.
Interactive Tool

Casino Game Comparison

Compare house edge across game types.
Interactive Tool

Wagering Requirement Calculator

Effective value of a bonus after playthrough terms.
Interactive Tool

Blackjack Strategy Calculator

Basic strategy chart and edge by rule set.
Interactive Tool

Craps Calculator

House edge by bet type.
Interactive Tool

Responsible Gambling Toolkit

Budget calculator, self-assessment, and session planner.
05 — READING

Full Platform Reviews & Guides

Best Online Casinos 2026 (regulated) Online Casino Legal States 2026 Sweepstakes vs. Real Money Casino What Is a Sweepstakes Casino? What Is RTP and Why Does It Matter? Responsible Gambling Resources
06 — COMPARE

Other Verticals

DFS Platform Comparison → Poker Room Comparison →

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this page show live casino odds or RTP data feeds?
No. OddsReference has a live price feed for prediction markets and sportsbooks, but not for casino games — there is no equivalent live "market" to quote for a slot or table game. The RTP figures here are published, audited averages cited from our own platform reviews and state-regulator data, not a live feed, and we do not invent per-game numbers we have not sourced.
Why doesn’t this page have "Visit Site" or bonus buttons for sweepstakes casinos?
Two reasons. First, OddsReference has no active affiliate partnership with any casino operator, sweepstakes or regulated (see our Affiliate Disclosure). Second, and independent of that: the legal landscape for sweepstakes casinos has moved fast in 2026 — California’s AB 831 imposes criminal liability on "media affiliates" who promote sweepstakes platforms to California residents, and several more states have banned or restricted the model since. Given that trajectory, this page describes the sweepstakes model for factual comparison only and does not carry promotional links or CTAs for sweepstakes-casino operators.
How many states have legal, regulated online casinos?
Our state tracker counts seven: New Jersey (2013), Delaware (2013), Pennsylvania (2019), West Virginia (2019), Michigan (2021), Connecticut (2021), and Rhode Island (2024, single-operator model). Some of our older comparison content describes "five" states, referring to the five most active multi-operator markets (NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT) and excluding DE's smaller three-operator market and RI's single-operator launch — both figures are defensible depending on what you're counting, and we say so rather than picking one silently.
Is a sweepstakes casino’s RTP the same as a regulated casino’s RTP for the same game?
Not necessarily. Regulated iCasinos publish per-game RTP and are audited by state gaming commissions; sweepstakes platforms are not required to disclose RTP, and our sweepstakes-vs-real-money comparison notes that independent testing has found some titles configured 2-5 percentage points lower on sweepstakes platforms than their regulated counterparts. This is a structural transparency gap, not a claim about any single operator’s current numbers.

Where These Numbers Come From

Every figure on this page is pulled from OddsReference's own published platform reviews and state-legality trackers linked above — not from a live price or odds feed. We do not have odds, pricing, or RTP data for DFS, casino, or poker products the way we do for prediction markets and sportsbooks, and this page does not pretend otherwise. Where our own articles disagree slightly on a figure (state counts shift as regulations change), we say so rather than picking one silently. See our Editorial Policy for how we source and update facts.

18+ (21+ for regulated sports betting and casino gambling in most US states). Gambling can be addictive — play responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose. Availability of any product referenced on this site varies by location; confirm your local laws before participating. Need help? Call 1-800-522-4700 (US, 24/7, free, confidential) or visit Responsible Gambling.