Minnesota Targets LuckyLand, Zula, FortuneCoins in Major Crackdown

In a sweeping legal offensive, Attorney General Keith Ellison has ordered three major sweepstakes casinos—LuckyLand, Zula Casino, and FortuneCoins—to cease all operations in the state by December 1, 2025.

They’re among 14 total platforms flagged in Ellison’s new crackdown targeting both offshore sportsbooks and sweepstakes-style casinos.

 The AG’s office cited violations of state gambling and consumer-protection laws, and warned operators of pending enforcement if they don’t comply.

Who Got the Letter?

The 14 platforms receiving formal notice:

• LuckyLand
• Zula Casino
• FortuneCoins
• BetAnySports
• BetUS
• XBet
• BetNow
• BetWhale
• EveryGame
• BetOnline
• SlotsandCasino
• Bovada
• MyBookie
• SportsBetting.ag

This marks Minnesota’s largest coordinated enforcement effort against online gambling platforms to date.

Two Letters, One Message: Get Out

Minnesota’s AG issued two nearly identical legal notices, one for traditional gambling sites, the other for “social sweepstakes casino websites.”

The sweepstakes-specific version directly attacks the two-coin model, calling it “deceptive” and alleging it violates Minnesota’s lottery laws. The letter references multiple state statutes and historic court rulings to make its case, including:

• Albert Lea Amusement Corp. v. Hanson (1950)
• State v. Schubert Theatre Players Co. (1938)

Ellison’s message is clear: “Gold Coins” + “Sweeps Coins” = illegal lottery.

Full Shutdown Expected by Dec. 1

Operators have until December 1, 2025, to:

• Stop offering games to Minnesota players
• Acknowledge receipt of the letter in writing
• Cease marketing and promotions within state borders

Failure to do so could result in fines, subpoenas, and litigation.

Minnesota Joins National Trend

This isn’t just a local skirmish. Minnesota now joins states like:

• Louisiana & Mississippi, which issued joint cease-and-desist orders earlier this year
• West Virginia, where AG J.B. McCuskey launched a sweep that led to more than 20 platform exits

Across the country, state regulators are coordinating to push sweepstakes and offshore casinos out of their markets, especially those using the two-coin cash redemption system.

What Happens Next?

Operators now face three options:

1. Exit Minnesota completely (most likely for small- to mid-size brands)
2. Go Gold Coin–only, like Modo Casino in California
3. Attempt a rebrand (e.g., ClubWPT’s pivot to a poker training site with a single-currency model)

For players in Minnesota, this means limited access, no redemptions, and more platform shutdowns ahead.

References

• Albert Lea Amusement Corp. v. Hanson (1950)
• State v. Schubert Theatre Players Co. (1938)
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