The time is now: why sweepstakes have never been so promising

EGR: The sweepstakes market has changed a lot this year – regulators are increasing their attention and big suppliers are adjusting their positions. Why has speed of action become so important for operators?

Daniel Heywood (DH): It’s because sweepstakes used to cruise under the radar and now it’s right in the spotlight. When such names as Evolution and Pragmatic Play step back “in light of regulatory developments”, it confirms that the landscape is being redrawn.

Regulatory discussions are intensifying, states are introducing stricter compliance demands, and yet, players continue to sign up and engage. In fact, consumers’ appetite for sweepstakes entertainment is rising. Hesitation becomes expensive in this sense. Every slow decision is a missed chance to establish your presence while the opportunity is still up for grabs.

I like to say this urgency is simply good timing. It’s knowing there’s a window worth stepping through (and also being aware that windows don’t stay open forever). As of now, sweepstakes have one of the most advantageous points of entry operators have had for a while. 

EGR: Some US states are proposing bans on sweepstakes while others are staying quiet. Should operators be worried about long-term viability?

DH: Worried? Not at all. Alert and focused? Absolutely.

We are watching two forces move in parallel: a small group of states leaning toward prohibitions, and organised industry groups approaching lawmakers with a unified position: ‘let’s make this official’.

Sweepstakes are simply entering its ‘rules are catching up’ phase – a point when an industry stops improvising and starts defining itself.

Operators are responding wisely. When a state says ‘not now’, they geofence or pause, then redirect resources to active markets. Many states are openly examining licensing options for sweepstakes. I recommend operators really keep their eyes on this lane, for early preparation always becomes a competitive advantage.

Players continue choosing sweepstakes because they provide entertainment legally where traditional igaming does not. The demand side is still incredibly strong.

EGR: Aside from regulation, what industry-wide trends should sweepstakes operators pay attention to in 2026?

DH: Today’s operators (first timers included) show up with a deeper grasp of what the business requires. They already understand growth, automation, data and legislation. It’s a clear indication that we’re in a faster, sharper phase of igaming, and sweepstakes are right in that forward motion. As far as the trends go…

Trend one: compliance is now one of the main measures of operator success. That’s because regulators toughened their requirements throughout 2025, forcing operators to either adapt or miss out. 

Trend two: AI is everywhere, powering retention, detecting risk, strengthening responsible gaming, optimising support and giving operators business clarity they never had before. 

Trend three: (external but crucial) igaming platform stability and security. We’ve all seen what happens when global infrastructure falters, from Cloudflare outages to Amazon disruptions. Operators now realise how dependent the entire ecosystem is on stability. With that in mind, they opt for partners that can guarantee resilience, uptime and reliable recovery, especially in such high-engagement verticals as sweepstakes. And that’s where NuxGame comes in, providing the stability operators rely on when the stakes rise.

And the final trend is what I call ‘live steering’. Operators want dashboards that let them change mechanics, bonuses or local settings instantly (as easily as turning a wheel). The era of waiting for development cycles is so over. 

With all that said, the sweepstakes model is becoming more sophisticated (and more promising) than ever before. If you want to succeed as a future-forward operator in 2026, you need to accept the fact that the market is levelling up and upgrade with it to claim the strongest position. 

EGR: With so many dynamics in motion (regulation, AI, stability, consumer demand) what else should operators work on now if they want profitability in the next 12-18 months?

DH: Now sweepstakes are becoming more demanding, more technical and far more competitive, only operators with a solid, well-structured strategy get to outperform the competition.

That strategy starts with the partner you choose. After recent global outages, nobody is asking only about features anymore. The real question is: “Who will keep my business steady when things get unpredictable?” Reliability and real partnership have become paramount for operators.

AI is the next must-focus-on factor. It takes the brakes off your operations and gives your team the ability to act sooner and smarter – that’s precisely what this market requires.

And then there’s preparation in a situation when regulations are forming. Instead of treating this phenomenon as a closed door, view it as the entrance… and then come in fully prepared. Operators that invest in compliance early will be the first to enter new regulated markets. Those that wait will need time to catch up.

If I could give one tip for sweepstakes casino operators, it’s this: prepare your business for speed but protect your platform’s reliability too. Get that balance right with NuxGame as your trusted 24/7 partner, and you will lead the future of sweepstakes.

Daniel Heywood is the CEO of NuxGame. He leads the company’s global direction, develops its product strategy and works closely with operators, empowering NuxGame to offer scalable, legally sound igaming solutions.