Where Is Onyx Odds Legal? All Onyx Odds Legal States
Onyx Odds Legal States 2025
Onyx Odds is one of the rising stars in the world of social sportsbooks in the U.S., giving players in 35+ states a legal way to make sports picks for real money prizes.
Instead of taking cash bets like a traditional book, Onyx Odds runs on a sweepstakes model that uses promotional credits and virtual coins. That setup makes it available in far more places than standard betting apps, and it’s one of the biggest reasons social sportsbooks have exploded in popularity over the past year.
If you’ve seen people posting their winning “Onyx Cash” tickets online and you’re wondering whether it’s legal where you live, we'll give you the full rundown of what is available in your state and how it all works.
Where Is Onyx Odds Available?
Onyx Odds is legal in most of the U.S. - including states where licensed sports betting is not available. This is due to the fact they operate under sweepstakes laws that let players make picks and win prizes without placing real-money bets.
However, a handful of states either restrict or fully prohibit sweepstakes play - which means Onyx Odds can’t offer prizes there.
Here’s the current legal map as of October 2025, including all states where you can play, and those where sweepstakes entries are blocked:
| Category | States |
|---|---|
| ✅ Legal Onyx Odds States (35 + DC) | AK, AR, AZ, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY |
| 🚫 Excluded States (15 total) | AL, CA, CO, CT, ID, LA, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, TN, WV, WA |
If your state’s listed in the legal row, you can register, play, and redeem prizes without any legal impediments.
If it’s in the excluded row, Onyx Odds will prevent registration based on local sweepstakes restrictions, and you will need to look at other options, such as DFS, Pick 'Em, or Prediction Markets for your real money wagering.
Even with those exclusions, however, Onyx Odds remains one of the most widely available legal sports-style platforms in the country - giving millions of fans a way to make picks and compete without ever placing a traditional cash wager.
Like every sweepstakes platform, your access depends on state law. If your state ever updates its stance on sweepstakes gaming (as California did recently), Onyx Odds is required to comply immediately.
Who can play on Onyx Odds?
Anyone 18 or older in a legal state can register and play. You’ll need to verify your age and identity before redeeming any prizes. The process usually takes just a few minutes and ensures a safe, compliant environment for all users.
How Does Onyx Odds Work?
Known as a social sportsbook, Onyx Odds is a sports-style betting platform where you can make picks, track results, and compete with other players - all without wagering real money.
Onyx Odds gives you the full sportsbook experience - you’ll see live odds, point spreads, props, and even leaderboards - but everything runs on virtual currency instead of cash. That structure keeps Onyx Odds fully legal in most U.S. states
It runs two play modes - Free Play and Sweepstakes - both available in every eligible state. Each mode uses its own currency and serves a different purpose, but both feel exactly like using a sportsbook app.
🟢 Onyx Odds Sweepstakes Mode (Real Prizes Available)
Betting with sweepstakes is where the real rewards come in.
You make the same kinds of picks you’d find on a sportsbook - spreads, totals, props, or parlays - but instead of betting cash, you use Onyx Cash, the app’s promotional sweepstakes currency.
You can earn Onyx Cash through daily bonuses, special promotions, free mail-in entries, or by winning picks made with Onyx Cash. This currency can then be redeemed for real money prizes once you verify your identity and meet the redemption requirements - 20 Onyx Cash minimum.
Redeem real cash prizes legally in 35+ states
Get Onyx Cash through daily bonuses, purchases, or mail-in entries
Low redemption minimum - Only 20 Onyx Cash required, lower than any other competitor
Full odds, props, and parlays; feels just like a licensed sportsbook
Leaderboards, streak challenges, and parlay contests enhance the fun
Fewer payout methods than traditional sportsbooks
Shallower betting markets than major sportsbooks
🟡 Free Play Mode (Just for Fun)
If you’d rather just play for fun - or you’re testing the platform - you can use Onyx Coins, the app’s free virtual currency.
Coins can’t be redeemed for cash, but you can use them to make picks, compete on leaderboards, and try out new betting strategies risk-free.
Players get daily coin rewards and can earn more through missions or streak bonuses, making it a perfect sandbox for learning how sportsbooks work without spending a cent.
Ideal training ground for odds, spreads, and parlays before playing for prizes
Fantastic social features such as missions, time-boxed promos, leaderboards, & head-to-head events
Perfect way to test strategies & bankroll management with no risk
Unlimited play - Daily coin bonuses and missions keep gameplay continuous
No real rewards - Onyx Coins can’t be redeemed for cash, prizes, or promotions
Progression and rewards can feel limited over time
Can I Win Real Money on Onyx Odds?
Yes - if you’re in a legal Onyx Odds state, you can win real prizes through Sweepstakes Mode.
When your picks hit in Onyx Cash contests, your balance grows. Once you verify your identity and meet the redemption requirements, you can redeem those winnings for cash prizes.
Withdrawals are processed as sweepstakes redemptions rather than gambling payouts, but the end result is the same - you receive real money within a few days via your preferred payment method - such as Debit Cards, Bank Transfers, Apple Pay or PayPal.
Why Is it legal to bet on Onyx Odds?
Onyx Odds operates under U.S. sweepstakes and promotional contest law, not gambling law. That distinction is what makes it legal almost everywhere.
Here’s the simplified version:
- No direct wagering: Players don’t bet real money; they enter sweepstakes contests using Onyx Cash, which can be obtained for free.
- Free entry required: The platform offers a no-purchase, mail-in entry option - a key requirement for compliance with sweepstakes laws.
- Skill vs. chance distinction: Sweepstakes contests are governed by promotional laws, not gambling statutes.
- Identity verification: Players must verify their identity (KYC) before redeeming prizes, ensuring legitimate play.
- State-specific exclusions: Some states prohibit online sweepstakes entirely, which is why Onyx Odds doesn’t operate across the nation.
In short, Onyx Odds isn’t a sportsbook in the legal sense - it’s a promotional sweepstakes app that feels like one. That’s how it’s able to offer real prizes while staying compliant across most of the country.
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Onyx Odds Legal States FAQ
Onyx Odds is available in 35 U.S. jurisdictions, allowing you to play for free and earn real money prizes in:
AK, AR, AZ, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY
Because Onyx Odds operates under sweepstakes law - not gambling law - its availability doesn’t depend on sportsbook licensing. The only thing that matters is whether your state allows promotional sweepstakes.
If you’re inside one of the 15 excluded states (AL, CA, CO, CT, ID, LA, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, TN, WV, WA), the app will block registration or disable prize redemptions automatically to keep things compliant.
You can see the full breakdown and details in the table above.
Yes. Onyx Odds is a legitimate U.S.-registered sweepstakes operator built specifically to comply with American promotional contest laws. It’s not an offshore site or a crypto sportsbook; everything runs through verified U.S. systems.
Every sweepstakes prize redemption requires full identity verification (KYC), meaning you’ll submit a valid ID before any real prizes are paid out. That process keeps bots, fraud, and duplicate accounts out - and protects your winnings once they’re earned.
The platform’s sweepstakes rules and terms are public, transparent, and reviewed by legal counsel - exactly what you’d expect from a company operating openly in the U.S. market. If you’ve ever used Fliff or other sweepstakes apps, Onyx Odds will feel instantly familiar - and we rate them just as safe as other industry leaders.
Absolutely. Onyx Odds puts an unusual amount of attention on player protection for a sweepstakes app. All sign-ins are secured with multi-factor authentication, and personal data - like IDs and banking info - is stored using the same encryption standards banks use (AES-256).
Prize redemptions go through a controlled flow that verifies your identity with Socure, one of the most respected KYC providers in the industry. That means your personal details never sit in a random database - they’re validated through a secure third-party identity service, then locked behind layered encryption.
On the financial side, Onyx Odds doesn’t handle your cash directly; payouts are processed through reputable U.S. payment partners. Combined, those systems make it one of the safest legal sweepstakes platforms in operation right now.
No. California officially banned online sweepstakes contests in October 2025.
Following the passing of this new law, Onyx Odds halted all play and prize redemptions for California residents. Players there can no longer register or access sweepstakes contests.
Yes. Texas allows social sweepstakes gaming, and Onyx Odds operates legally there. You can make picks, join contests, and redeem prizes just as players do in other eligible states.
Yes. Florida is one of Onyx Odds’ strongest markets, and the platform operates without restrictions. Players in the Sunshine state can play for fun, as well as enter sweepstakes contests for real prizes.
Given that Hard Rock Bet is Florida's only licensed sportsbook, sweepstakes sites like Onyx Odds give Floridians another legal avenue to bet on sports and cash in real money.
Yes. Pennsylvania has no prohibitions on sweepstakes gaming, which makes Onyx Odds fully accessible for players in the state.
Yes. North Carolina players can legally play Onyx Odds and redeem prizes through sweepstakes contests.
The platform’s geolocation tools automatically verify your position when you enter contests, ensuring your gameplay stays compliant. NC doesn’t restrict online sweepstakes, which makes it a smooth, reliable state for Onyx Odds users.
Yes. Arizona permits sweepstakes-style play, and Onyx Odds operates normally there.
Because Arizona’s gambling law focuses on cash wagers, Onyx Odds fits outside that definition - no deposits, no cash betting, just promotional credits and prize redemptions.
AZ players can safely participate in all contests and cash out winnings once they complete KYC verification.
Yes. Indiana has embraced social and sweepstakes-based gaming platforms like Onyx Odds. The state’s regulatory climate is friendly to promotional sweepstakes, so you won’t run into technical or legal blocks.
Players in the Hoosier State can sign up instantly, verify their identity, and start making picks using Onyx Coins or Onyx Cash.
Payouts typically process within a few business days once your KYC is approved.
No. Louisiana is one of the few states that explicitly restricts online sweepstakes contests involving prize redemption, which means Onyx Odds can’t legally operate there.
Even though Louisiana was an early mover in legalizing traditional sportsbooks, its sweepstakes laws remain unusually strict - they classify any game that awards a prize based even partly on chance as a form of gambling unless it’s licensed by the state.
If you try to log in from Louisiana, the app’s geolocation system will prevent full registration. Onyx Odds has stated it will re-evaluate availability if Louisiana ever updates its sweepstakes laws to match other states, but for now, it’s fully restricted.
Yes. Iowa allows promotional sweepstakes and social gaming apps like Onyx Odds to operate freely.
If you’re in Iowa, you can register, verify your identity, and start playing immediately. The app’s sweepstakes model - where no purchase is required and prizes are awarded through promotional drawings - fits comfortably within Iowa’s legal framework.
When you win, redemptions process quickly once your KYC verification clears. Iowa’s straightforward rules make it one of the smoothest states for Onyx Odds play.
Yes. Virginia permits sweepstakes contests, and Onyx Odds runs normally there with full access to both free and sweepstakes play.
No. Colorado currently classifies sweepstakes gaming under its gambling restrictions, which means Onyx Odds cannot legally operate there.
Players trying to register from Colorado will receive a geo-block message, and even if you travel from another state, your access will be limited until you’re outside Colorado borders.
If that changes in the future - and state regulators have discussed potential clarifications - Onyx Odds is likely to re-enter quickly.
No. Despite being one of the first states to legalize sports betting, New Jersey restricts sweepstakes-based apps like Onyx Odds.
The issue isn’t with sports wagering itself - New Jersey’s fine with that - but with unlicensed prize promotions that resemble gambling in format.
Because Onyx Odds awards real-money prizes through sweepstakes rather than wagers, it falls under promotional-contest rules, and New Jersey law doesn’t currently provide a carve-out for online sweepstakes involving cash prizes.
Yes. Ohio allows sweepstakes-style apps like Onyx Odds, and the platform runs there with no restrictions.
Players can register, make picks, and redeem sweepstakes winnings directly through their account. The app’s payout systems are designed to work with common U.S. banking methods, so redemptions are typically quick and seamless once identity verification is complete.
No. New York law prohibits online sweepstakes promotions, so Onyx Odds does not operate there. If you try to register from New York, the app will block access automatically.
Yes. Illinois players can legally play Onyx Odds, compete in sweepstakes contests, and redeem prizes.
No. Michigan restricts online sweepstakes play, so Onyx Odds is unavailable there.
Yes. Massachusetts players have full access to Onyx Odds.
The state doesn’t prohibit promotional sweepstakes, and Onyx Odds complies with all local laws by keeping its system purchase-optional and free-entry accessible.
MA players can use both Onyx Coins for fun play and Onyx Cash for sweepstakes contests - both modes fully supported and legal.
Cole cut his teeth as a sportswriter in Texas, covering everything from Longhorns games to small-town Friday night lights. A lifelong bettor stuck with offshore books for over a decade thanks to Texas' slow path to legalization, he eventually found his way into the world of social sportsbooks - where he uncovered a fast-growing, community of bettors.
Today, he writes for the millions of Americans in states without legal books, helping them explore safe ways to bet without running afoul of the law.
As editor-in-chief, he aims to keep BettingScanner honest, human, and grounded in what bettors actually care about: fairness, fun, and finding your lane - even when the state won’t give you one.
