RealPrize & LoneStar Pull Sweeps Coin Gameplay From Delaware

RealPrize and LoneStar are the latest sweepstakes casinos to pull Sweeps Coin (SC) gameplay from Delaware, with both brands giving players until September 21 to request any final redemptions.

Both casinos are operated by RealPlay Tech Inc., an Israel-based company that’s also incorporated in Delaware, ironically. However, that hasn’t saved it from the state’s strict gaming environment.

Emails were sent to DE players this week informing them that SC gameplay would soon be removed, while GC play will remain available. SC purchases will be discontinued on August 21, while players have until September 21 to submit redemption requests for processing. After that date, no more SC redemption requests from Delaware will be accepted by LoneStar/RealPrize.

Why Do Sweepstakes Casinos Avoid Delaware?

The move isn’t happening in isolation – most major sweepstakes casinos are already out of the First State, including many big names like McLuck, Stake.us, and Chumba. In fact, it was Chumba’s operator, VGW, that was initially targeted by the Delaware regulator in February 2023.

The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) sent a cease-and-desist order to VGW, and two years later, VGW ultimately complied, pulling its brands out.

And when VGW makes a move, other sweepstakes casinos often follow. That’s left only around a third of active sweeps brands operating in DE, and it seems RealPrize and LoneStar have now decided to withdraw as well.

There doesn’t seem to be a recent trigger – at least not a public one. Sometimes an operator may just decide that a jurisdiction isn’t worth the additional regulatory risk or operational costs, particularly if it’s a relatively small market, like Delaware is. SweepsKings generally rates the First State in the lowest 20% in terms of market activity compared to the rest of the country.

It doesn’t help that Delaware is one of the few states with a regulated online casino market, creating a stricter gaming environment where regulators have a clear framework for what constitutes legal online gambling – and what doesn’t.

But the irony is, as mentioned above, many sweeps companies incorporate in Delaware. You’ll often see lawsuits involving sweepstakes casinos play out in Delaware courts thanks to T&C clauses that players agree to on signup. The state is chosen mainly because of its corporate-friendly laws and legal precedents that tend to favor business.

What Should Delaware-based Members of RealPrize and LoneStar Do Next?

Ultimately, for players using RealPrize or LoneStar in Delaware, the important thing is to submit any outstanding SC redemption requests before September 21. Whether you want to buy a last batch of coins with SC before the store closes on August 21 is up to you.

GC gameplay will remain available at both brands, so the casinos aren’t disappearing completely. However, this effectively puts them on the level of a pure social casino, with no redemption possibility.

If you’re looking to keep playing at a different sweepstakes casino in Delaware, SweepsKings has reviews that can help you find a new home. Remember, around a third of the sweeps market is still available in the state.

We list the restricted states for each casino at the top of all our reviews, so if you find one without Delaware listed, you’re free to sign up. Some popular choices would be Legendz, MyPrize.us, and Punt, as well as newer options like Card Crush and ZumbaCards. Click below to learn more.