Sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks often claim they’re “social gaming” instead of gambling. In furtherance of the claim, some direct their users to the wrong resource for sweepstakes addiction.
Gambling Harm has observed that many of these gambling platforms, some based overseas and others inside the U.S., link to Gaming Addicts Anonymous (GAA), a resource for people struggling with problems related to video gaming.
For people with gambling addiction, Gamblers Anonymous (GA) offers support.
“We at GAA have nothing to do with any gambling websites,” Scott Jennings, founder of the GAA fellowship, told Gambling Harm.
GAA does not provide support for people with sweepstakes gambling addiction.
“I’m aware that many of them list Gaming Addicts Anonymous (rather than Gamblers Anonymous) as a resource for problem gambling,” Jennings said. “I don’t know why. I wrote to some of them, asking them to stop, but got no response.”
Jennings declined to say which sweepstakes casinos he had contacted.
Sweepstakes gambling platforms generate $6 billion in player purchases from Americans each year, according to Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, a research firm specializing in gambling.
Sweepstakes ‘Responsible Gaming’
There are hundreds of sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks allegedly taking money from people in the U.S. Sweepstakes gambling platforms that have directed users to GAA include:
- Fliff Sportsbook
- Stake.us
- Thrillzz Sportsbook
- Yay Casino
- Zula Casino
- Casino Click
- Top Top Casino
- McLuck Casino
- ACE.com
- Fortune Coins
The consequences of sending users to an organization that does not support gambling addiction could be deadly. Gambling addiction has high suicide rates.
Pointing people with a sweepstakes addiction to a video gaming organization risks misdirection at a potentially dangerous moment.
A 2022 meta-analysis showed that in clinical populations and in treatment services for problem gambling, between 22 and 81% of individuals have been found to have suicidal ideations, while between 7 and 30% of individuals have had suicide attempts.
Is linking to GAA better than nothing? Perhaps.
For example, the NFL Super Bowl Slots “social” app mentions no resource for addiction help. Unlike a sweepstakes platform, the NFL slots app doesn’t let users earn cash prizes—but it still looks and feels like gambling.
How Sweepstakes Casinos Work
Sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks operate using a dual-currency model, mimicking real-money gambling.
Players use purchasable “coins” for play, while bonus currency is provided via promos, giveaways, or mail-in requests.
Virtual currency can be used on slots, table games, poker, or sports betting.
Winnings can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.
Because outcomes occur within a so-called sweepstakes promotion, operators allegedly claim compliance with sweepstakes and promotional-contest laws rather than traditional gambling.
Yet, sweepstakes addiction awareness is growing in the U.S.
States across the country, including New York, and even the City of Los Angeles, have said these platforms are illegal and harmful. California and New Jersey, for example, have advanced legislation to ban them. They have also been sued many times by users who said they were harmed.
Why Sweepstakes Casinos Link to Gaming Addiction Org
There is no official reason, but the answer could be obvious. Because these platforms claim they are not gambling, linking to Gamblers Anonymous could contradict these claims.
But, their products are not video or computer gaming.
To make matters worse, Gaming Addicts Anonymous wants sweepstakes platforms to stop referencing its organization. Some have allegedly refused to comply.
GAA has not filed any lawsuits against the platforms.
Does GAA Help With Sweepstakes Addiction?
Gaming Addicts Anonymous, which went by the name Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous (CGAA) until 2022, only deals with video and computer games.
For gambling, contact 1-800-GAMBLER and Gamblers Anonymous.
If you contact GAA for gambling problems, the group will redirect you to GA.
GA has proven effective for many gamblers in recovery, including for sweepstakes addiction. Another form of sweepstakes gambling that GA can address is addiction to McDonald’s Monopoly.
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