Online sweepstakes casinos operate in a legal gray area, avoiding the rules and consumer protections that regulated casinos must follow. Many of these platforms are operated by offshore companies, making oversight, accountability, and enforcement extremely difficult.

Make no mistake — these so-called “social casinos,” operating behind a mask of harmless, sweepstakes-based models, are no different from traditional gambling operations. They use the same addictive mechanics designed to keep users playing and spending money, yet they are not held to the same regulatory standards or safeguards.

This lack of oversight contributes directly to gambling addiction, including among young people. Many sweepstakes casinos lack meaningful age verification, spending limits, or responsible gambling protections, exposing youth and vulnerable individuals to addictive gambling behaviors before they fully understand the risks.

Please take the time to sign this petition and help protect North Carolinians by closing this loophole and effectively banning these unregulated sweepstakes casinos from operating in our state.