2024 was the hottest year for sweepstakes casinos yet. They dominated the US gaming industry, and, according to our own market research and the findings from the leading research and consulting firm Spectrum Gaming Group, sweepstakes gaming will continue to thrive in 2025.
Spectrum’s annual 2025 Gaming Trend Predictions list highlights sweepstakes gaming as the top trend, emphasizing the major shift witnessed in 2024 regarding American preferences for gaming platforms. Below I look at the top 2025 iGaming predictions and trends, while exploring the implications on sweepstakes casinos’ evolution.
Spectrum places Sweepstakes Casinos at the top of 2025 gaming trends
Spectrum Gaming Group, a leading research and consulting firm in the gaming industry, has just released its highly anticipated 2025 Gaming Trend Predictions list, and sweepstakes gaming takes the top spot.
The firm has been releasing the Gaming Trend Predictions since 2005 and is known for its in-depth analysis and accurate forecasting based on market analysis, rigorous research, and industry insights. Check out the ‘Spectrum Gaming Group U.S. Top 10 Trends to Watch for in 2025’ list below:
- Digital Sweepstakes Gaming
- Historical Horse Racing
- Igaming
- Merging on Verticals
- New York City
- Policy
- Responsible Gaming
- “Skill” Machines
- Sports Betting
- Texas
Note: The list is in alphabetical, and not performance-based order.
Spectrum’s annual predictions are a benchmark for the industry and all the industry stakeholders, as well as legislators and investors, on where the market is heading. This year, sweepstakes gaming has emerged as a major trend, signaling the shift we saw in 2024 in what Americans favor when it comes to gaming platforms.
Over 30 new sweeps casinos appeared in 2024
Over 30 new legitimate sweepstakes casinos launched in 2024 – which marks a significant year-on-year growth.
In 2022 (and earlier), there were around a dozen sweepstakes casinos. By 2023, that number had increased to 26, with 14 new sweepstakes sites launching in 2023. However, the biggest surge happened in 2024, with our research uncovering more than 30 new sweepstakes casinos entering the market.
Mind that this is just the number of legitimate social gaming sites we covered at SweepsKings, with the actual number of sites being much larger. Though, many of them are dubious sites that often emerge from sketchy land-based café setups or obscure software providers, trying to pass themselves off as genuine sweepstakes platforms. Our coverage focuses exclusively on the operators that meet the criteria for legality, security, and fair play.
The sharp increase in 2024 shows that sweepstakes gaming is a maturing industry, and the appetite for online sweeps casinos among Americans is very real.
Dangers and opportunities
The expansion of the market is good news for players. It means a wider choice of good platforms with higher standards for security, game variety, and user experience. However, since the sweepstakes gaming model is designed to operate with less scrutiny than traditional online casinos, you need to rely on experts like SweepsKings to identify legitimate platforms more than ever.
At the same time, the slow progress of online casino legalization in many US states has hurt the traditional digital iGaming industry, but created an opportunity for sweepstakes operators to fill the gap. While this benefits players who seek accessible gaming options, it also raises major concerns among land-based casino operators over lost revenue. Several lawsuits have already emerged around this issue, and although nothing has been officially declared yet, any future legal challenges could potentially stale market growth.
Steps towards the right direction
The industry is taking steps toward a more transparent and more sustainable future. The recent establishment of the Sweepstakes and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGA) in late 2024 marked a significant milestone for the industry. The association was formed by 10 leading sweepstakes operators, including Kickr Games, Fliff, and High 5 Entertainment, with the intention to set industry standards, promote fairness, and foster industry innovation and growth.
Another positive trend is the increased player awareness when it comes to sketchy sweepstakes casinos. Many unregulated and dubious sweepstakes casinos have faded away in recent years, while trusted operators and reputable social casinos have gained traction. These platforms are now setting the standard, and you can get all the latest info about legitimate sweepstakes sites at SweepsKings.
The combination of expert coverage, industry initiatives like the SPGA, and informed players, are all positive indicators encouraging that sweepstakes gaming will continue to thrive in the right direction.
Author: Alex Windsor
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