Play'n GO's Firm Stance Against Sweepstakes Casinos

Play'n GO, a leading Swedish gaming content provider, has publicly declared its refusal to supply its game portfolio to sweepstakes casinos. This decision underscores the company's unwavering commitment to operating within regulated frameworks. Johan Törnqvist, CEO and Co-Founder of Play'n GO, has made the company's stance clear: “Sweepstakes casinos do not operate inside a regulated framework and that's not something we support. Our commitment to regulated markets is absolute. We will never supply our games to sweepstakes casinos.” This bold statement comes at a time when sweepstakes casinos are increasingly under scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers and regulators.

The Risks and Regulatory Challenges

Shawn Fluharty, Play'n GO's Head of Government Affairs, has elaborated on the potential dangers of engaging with unregulated platforms. He argues that sweepstakes casinos threaten the integrity of the regulated market model, which prioritizes player protection and generates essential revenue for jurisdictions. Fluharty warns, “Sweepstakes casinos threaten the regulated market model that many of us in the industry have worked so hard to achieve, which protects players first and foremost, and delivers much-needed revenue to jurisdictions.” He further cautions suppliers against partnering with such platforms, stating, “I can say with confidence that regulators have long memories – anyone doing business with sweepstakes casinos today will find it very difficult to do business in a future regulated market.” This stance contrasts with some industry peers, such as Light & Wonder, whose CEO Matt Wilson criticized sweepstakes but left room for potential future collaborations if regulations change.

Legislative Efforts and Industry Commitment

The timing of Play'n GO's announcement aligns with growing legislative efforts across the United States to address the proliferation of sweepstakes platforms. While attempts to ban these operations in states like Florida and Mississippi have faced setbacks, other states are making progress. Montana is on the verge of enacting a law that could outlaw sweepstakes casinos and similar platforms that accept bets and pay out winnings in any form of currency. Market leaders like VGW, which operates Chumba Casino and Luckyland Casino, have already withdrawn from Montana in anticipation. In Louisiana, a bill to ban sweepstakes casinos has advanced through the state Senate, with Sen. Adam Bass emphasizing during a committee hearing that such platforms “claim to simply be a sweepstakes contest but are in fact unregulated and untaxed gambling.” Connecticut and New York are also taking steps towards regulation, with bills targeting sweepstakes casinos and dual-currency gaming systems moving forward in their legislative processes. Play'n GO's rejection of sweepstakes casinos is part of its broader commitment to responsible and sustainable gaming practices. The company was the first to pledge not to develop “bonus buy” slots, a product type now banned in jurisdictions like the UK and the Netherlands. Recently, Play'n GO was recognized as a “priority partner” by Tipico, a prominent German casino operator, which has chosen to promote Play'n GO titles while excluding other suppliers that also serve unlicensed markets. Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play'n GO, acknowledges the financial trade-off involved in such decisions, stating, “It's no secret that with this decision – much like with our stance towards Bonus Buy games – we have been, and continue to leave a lot of money on the table.” He adds, “But everyone in the industry has a choice about what kind of industry we want. We want to see a fully regulated and sustainable industry that protects players, promotes innovation, and ensures that we actually have an industry in the future.” Play'n GO's firm position places it at the forefront of a broader shift towards fully licensed models, as more operators and jurisdictions prioritize increased oversight and fairness in iGaming. Source: “Play'n GO will never supply games to sweepstakes casinos” - CEO Johan Törnqvist, playngo.com, May 6, 2025 By GamesAndCasino