Regulators, industry are challenging the ‘sweepstakes’ games that look a lot like online gambling

It was only about a year ago, Erik says, that he started gambling online. He wagered just $10 or $20 at first but soon found himself putting up hundreds of dollars at a time — money, he says, he couldn’t afford to lose.

“It’s almost like I blacked out,” he says. “I remember how fast it went. It’s such an embarrassing thing. These are such childlike little games. I don’t even know how it happened.”

It’s a familiar tale. But Erik’s habit doesn’t involve casino visits, basement poker games or mobile sports betting. Though online casino games are illegal in most every state, Erik is among millions of Americans who have played slots and blackjack online, winning and losing real money faster than they could in Las Vegas.