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VGW Withdraws Sweepstakes Gambling Operations from New York
VGW Holdings, the parent company behind popular sweepstakes gaming platforms, including Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, will cease all its sweepstakes-related operations in New York State by August 1, 2025.
The move follows mounting regulatory pressure and proposed legislation aimed at prohibiting sweepstakes-style gambling within the state. VGW notified its New York users over the weekend via email, outlining a timeline for the shutdown.
According to VGW, the phase-out process will begin on June 2 and conclude entirely by August 1. Effective June 2, New York-based players will no longer be able to obtain Sweeps Coins, a virtual currency used to play for real-world prizes. Access through daily rewards, promotional contests, purchases of Gold Coins, or mail-in requests will be discontinued. Sweeps Coin gameplay will cease on July 2, with prize redemptions ending completely on August 1.
A VGW spokesperson told industry platform Sweepsy:
“We are 100 percent focused on ensuring players are fully informed about the changes and that the transition is seamless.”
VGW’s departure from New York aligns with a broader industry trend, as platforms like High 5 Casino, Hello Millions, Funzpoints, and others have already exited the market. The wave of exits is largely in response to Senator Joseph Addabbo’s bill, introduced in March, which aims to explicitly ban sweepstakes gambling in the state.
VGW has previously exited seven other US states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, and Washington, reflecting increasing inspection nationwide. The company has not commented on potential re-entry should regulations evolve.
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