Is CardCrush legal in New York?

The short answer

CardCrush operates legally in New York today, but on a legal theory no New York court or regulator has confirmed. CardCrush uses one currency, Mystery Coins, as both the play unit and the prize unit, which it argues sits outside SB 5935A's dual-currency prohibition. CardCrush holds an 8.6/10 Crush score and ranks first among the four card-sweepstakes brands available in New York.

The open risk in New York is sharper than in most states. SB 5935A carries penalties up to $100,000 per violation, so the cost of an adverse ruling is high. Until a regulator tests the single-currency carve-out, CardCrush remains available to New York players who verify the current status first.

What SB 5935A changed in New York

Governor Kathy Hochul signed New York SB 5935A on December 5, 2025, and the law took effect immediately with no transition period. SB 5935A, enacted as Chapter 605 of the New York Laws, amends the state Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law to ban dual-currency online sweepstakes gaming. SB 5935A explicitly covers sweepstakes poker alongside casino-style games.

SB 5935A carries penalties of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation, plus possible loss of a gaming license. The New York State Gaming Commission, the New York State Police, and the Attorney General jointly enforce the law. Attorney General Letitia James had already sent cease-and-desist letters to 26 sweepstakes operators on June 9, 2025, six months before the bill was signed.

How New York's ban differs from California's AB 831

SB 5935A is stricter than California AB 831 on three counts. SB 5935A took effect immediately on December 5, 2025, while AB 831 gave operators roughly 80 days to wind down before its January 1, 2026 date. SB 5935A penalties run $10,000 to $100,000, four to ten times higher than AB 831's $1,000 to $25,000 range.

SB 5935A also explicitly names sweepstakes poker, which AB 831 does not. That poker clause forced ClubWPT Gold to exit New York on December 5, 2025, before the brand returned in January 2026 under a contested model. The two laws target the same dual-currency structure, but New York enforces it harder.

Why CardCrush still operates in New York

CardCrush uses a single-currency skill-contest model, which is the basis for its continued New York operation. CardCrush issues one currency, Mystery Coins, valued at 1 MC to $1, that serves as both the play currency and the redeemable prize currency. SB 5935A targets the dual-currency structure, where a separate non-redeemable coin funds play, so CardCrush argues its single-currency design is outside the statute.

That argument is a legal theory, not a confirmed ruling. No New York court or regulator has validated CardCrush's single-currency model under SB 5935A. Given New York's $100,000 penalty ceiling, New York players should treat the SB 5935A question as unresolved before depositing.

Card sweepstakes brands legal in New York (ranked)

Four card and casino sweepstakes brands operate in New York as of June 10, 2026, each clearing SB 5935A by a different route. CrushCards ranks all four on the same fixed-weight rubric.

Horseplay and GiddyUp run federal Advance Deposit Wagering models that preempt SB 5935A, the most durable basis of the four. CardCrush relies on the untested single-currency carve-out. ClubWPT Gold exited New York on the signing date and returned in January 2026 without a confirmed legal basis.

Brands not available in New York

The dual-currency brands below exited New York around the December 2025 signing and do not operate in the state. Each ran the Gold Coins plus Sweeps Coins model SB 5935A prohibits.

New York players who lost access to these dual-currency brands moved to CardCrush, Horseplay, and GiddyUp for real-prize play.

Age, redemption, and safe play in New York

New York players must meet a minimum age of 18, with 21 required at some brands. CardCrush and the other surfaced brands require KYC identity verification before any redemption. Redemption thresholds and methods vary by brand, so confirm each brand's terms before depositing.

Real-prize gaming carries financial risk regardless of legal status. Given New York's strict SB 5935A penalties, players should treat the legal question as unresolved and set limits. Anyone who needs support can call the problem-gambling helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

The bottom line

CardCrush is legal and operational in New York as of June 10, 2026, under a single-currency skill-contest model that argues it sits outside SB 5935A. The theory is untested, and New York's $10,000 to $100,000 penalties make the open question higher-stakes than in California. CardCrush ranks first of the four card-sweepstakes brands available in New York, ahead of Horseplay, GiddyUp, and ClubWPT Gold. New York players should verify CardCrush's current compliance posture before depositing.