New estimates from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) suggest the US sweepstakes casino market could generate around $6.6B in net revenue this year, alongside approximately $20.5B in player purchases.
The 2026 figures form part of an updated model tracking the performance of US sweepstakes casino operators.
In a post announcing the news on LinkedIn, EKG co-founder Adam Krejcik stated:
“Even with California and New York going offline in 2026, we now estimate the market will generate $20.5B in player purchases and $6.6B in net revenue this year — up +9% year over year, and a meaningful upward revision from our prior modeling.”
Market Continues to Expand Despite Regulatory Pressure
These estimates could seem counterintuitive because they come at a time when the US sweepstakes casino vertical continues to shrink geographically thanks to increasing scrutiny from lawmakers – a growing number of states have been removing access to sweepstakes and dual-currency gaming products over the last couple of years.
In 2025 we saw state-level bans in New York, California, New Jersey, Montana, and Connecticut, while 2026 saw the same in Indiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
But despite 10 states being taken out of play over the last 2 years, EKG’s model still predicts continued growth in the sector. By comparison, previous estimates placed 2024 net revenue at around $3.4B, rising to a 2025 forecast of up to $4.6B, but 2026’s $6.6B is expected to beat both, and by no small margin.
Shift Toward Mobile and Native App Operators
The modeling also picked up an apparent structural shift in the market, with growth “increasingly concentrated among native-app-focused operators.”
Earlier sweepstakes casino products were often browser-based, but casino app engagement loops can be tighter and users can be exposed to rewards and promotions more often.
Retention and repeat sessions are more important than one-off acquisition, particularly in a market where paid advertising and state-level availability are increasingly tightening, and when many users sign up and drop off after using a sweepstakes casino welcome bonus.
So while app development and maintenance adds extra costs, the most established sweeps brands including Pulsz, Stake.us, and McLuck are now offering mobile app experiences for both iOS and Android operating systems.
All in all, EKG’s modeling suggests the sweepstakes sector is not simply expanding because it’s reaching new areas. Instead, growth is increasingly being driven by how efficiently existing operators are able to monetize and retain potential players within a shrinking market.
EKG is a US research and advisory firm specializing in gambling and gaming, and its sweepstakes modeling figures are often used in industry analysis.
Author: Joseph Allen
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