Gambling is a big deal in the United States. Americans spent more than $170 million on bets of one kind or another in 2024, and things show no signs of slowing down. While not every state has legalized gaming, most have sweepstakes of one kind or another, and, with them legally barring stakes, there are a lot of places that allow for a kind of no-deposit sweepstakes bonuses. These casinos allow you to play online casino games without taking a financial risk, which makes them more appealing.
Nevada
If you know anything about gambling in America, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that Nevada is the state that generates the most betting money. The Silver State is, after all, home to Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world, and there are more than 300 casinos in the state, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, Nevada’s total gambling take is, according to Statista, $15.6 billion, bigger than the next two states put together. With a bill that could restrict sweepstakes casinos in Governor Joe Lombardo’s state, it will be interesting to see what impact that could have on Nevada’s gambling dominance.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is the second biggest state when it comes to gambling revenue. The Keystone State has 17 authorized casinos, which helped it generate $6.87 billion in 2024. Pennsylvania’s government take from gambling amounted to $2.54 last year, with money helping fund community funds and charities, as well as the state’s six horse racing tracks. Sweepstakes are legal, but do not allow for paid entry and have prizes restricted to $1,000 for a day-long competition and $25,000 for ones lasting a week or more.
New Jersey
New Jersey comes third on the list, with a 2024 gambling revenue of just under $6.3 billion. What makes the Garden State all the more remarkable when it comes to its position on the chart is that all nine of the state’s casinos are in Atlantic City. In fact, attempts to change state law to allow for gambling houses outside Atlantic City have proven to be unsuccessful. People looking to play sweepstakes in New Jersey are, perhaps appropriately, out of luck, because sweepstakes gambling is illegal in the state.
New York
New York is the fourth-largest state by gambling market, making $5.17 billion in revenue in 2024. The Empire State boasts 25 registered casinos, although 21 of them are, basically, racetracks or other similar facilities with slot machine terminals. The remaining four, spread across the state, generated more than $54 million in January 2025 alone, a 10 per cent year-over-year increase. Sweepstakes are legal in New York State, although there are certain restrictions, such as a ban on cannabis-related prizes and having to register a sweepstake where the total value of prizes is $5,000 or above.
Michigan
Michigan comes fifth on the list of states by the size of their gambling revenue, with people spending $4.19 billion on bets in 2024. There are 26 legal casinos in the Great Lakes State, with 23 of them being on tribal land and the remainder located in Detroit. Casinos have been legal in Michigan since the 1980s, while online gambling was passed into law in 2019. Sweepstakes are legal in the state as long as they aren’t related to tobacco or an entrant does not have to enter any kind of retail site to take part.
Ohio
Although Ohio is a relative newcomer to casino gambling, with the site only becoming legal in 2009, it has still managed to make its way to number six in our list, making $3.29 billion in 2024. Currently, there are 11 registered casinos in the Buckeye State, with the first, Jack Cleveland Casino, first opening its doors to gamblers in 2012. Sweepstakes in Ohio are under threat, as a bill proposed in May 2025 would ban them from the state. However, gamers might be interested to know that the same legislation would allow online gambling in Ohio for the first time.
Indiana
Indiana comes in at number seven in our list of the top 10 American states by gambling market, scoring a little under $2.94 billion last year. The Hoosier State is home to 14 legalized casinos, with one tribal, two racinos, five land based facilities and six riverboat gambling venues located on either Lake Michigan or the Ohio River. Indiana allows sweepstakes, so long as they are free to enter and have a fully disclosed list of terms and conditions.
Illinois
Indiana’s Lake Michigan neighbor, Illinois, comes next on our list at number eight. The Prairie State’s gamblers racked up $2.92 billion in gambling revenue in 2024. Illinois is host to 15 casinos with a 16th, Bally’s Chicago, due to hit the Windy City in 2026. Casino gambling has been legal in the state, which has had its own lottery in the 1970s, since 1991, although it has a proud tradition of horse racing betting dating back to the 1920s. Illinois allows for sweepstakes, subject to legal restrictions.
Louisiana
Louisiana is the ninth-largest US state in terms of gambling revenue, making $2.76 billion last year. The state is home to 24 casinos, with four Native American, one land-based, and 19 riverboats. Fittingly, the Pelican State has been in the wagering business for a long time, with six casinos in New Orleans getting official approval as long ago as 1823. Gambling was so popular at the time that the city even had a Craps Street, named after the dice game. Sweepstakes are legal in the state, but the organizer must let the winners know they have actually won.
Maryland
Finally, Maryland rounds off our list, with the Old Line State enjoying $2.61 billion worth of gambling revenue in 2024. There are six casinos in the state, with the oldest, Hollywood Casino Perryville, opening its doors in 2010. Maryland has a chequered history with gaming, with a slot machine boom in the 1940s and 1950s wiped out by 1960s legislation before relegalization in the 2000s and online gambling becoming legalized in 2022. However, a law is currently going through the state legislature to ban online sweepstakes casinos.
Also read: How do sweepstakes casinos make money?
