Real Prize Stops New York Operations Leaving Customers in the Lurch

New York users of Real Prize, a sweepstake casino run by RealPlay Tech, felt let down after the platform closed earlier than promised. The company had told users they had until March 28 to cash out their Sweepstake Coin (SC) balances before it left the state. However, reports and customer screenshots show that access ended a day earlier, on March 27, stopping cashouts.

Real Prize Users Locked Out as Platform Closes Ahead of Schedule

In an email to affected users, Real Prize owned up to the mix-up, saying system changes forced an earlier shutdown. The company said it understood why customers were upset but stressed that minimum cashout limits still applied and that the decision to close was final.

Real Prize is not the only sweepstake casino to leave New York because of upcoming laws that want to ban this business model. Several companies have started to pull out, giving players different amounts of warning. Users on Reddit shared that some websites allowed more time for the change, letting people cash out until April, while others, like Real Prize, set much tighter deadlines. In some cases, people said sites shut down without any warning, blocking users from their accounts.

These changes come as state lawmakers take a closer look with Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr.’s bill to ban sweepstakes casinos moving forward in the New York Senate. The bill aims to shut down what lawmakers see as a legal gap that lets these platforms work like regular online casinos.

Legal Experts Warn of Potential Lawsuits Over Sweepstake Casino Closures

Legal experts worry about how some operators are handling their exits. Gaming lawyer Daniel Wallach told Next.io that unclear or misleading statements about when they will shut down might make users feel safe causing them to wait to cash out. He said such actions could be seen as unfair trade practices under state law leaving companies open to lawsuits or action from the New York Attorney General.

Angry players have turned to social media and forums to voice their complaints. Some report they cannot access large sums of money, while others warn fellow gamers to cash out their prizes right away in case more sites shut down without notice. Some users even think about filing reports with the Attorney General’s office or requesting chargebacks to get their money back.

What’s Next for Sweepstakes Casinos in New York

While sites like Real Prize have already shut down, others are still watching and waiting. Some companies, including Chumba Casino and Funzpoints still let New York players join, maybe hoping to stay open until lawmakers make a final choice on the suggested ban.

Should Sen. Addabbo’s bill become law, it would ban sweepstakes casinos and might penalize payment processors and service providers that help them operate. This could make it harder for these platforms to keep serving New York customers.

Right now, users affected by the sudden shutdowns are trying to find solutions. Many are pushing for more supervision to ensure players get a fairer transition process.