VGW Pulls Sweepstakes from New York

A Strategic Exit

VGW Holdings, the company behind Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, is waving goodbye to its Sweeps Coin sweepstakes operations in New York, kicking off a phased withdrawal on June 2, 2025.

The move comes as New York cranks up the heat on what it calls illegal online gambling, with Sen. Joseph Addabbo’s new bill aiming to ban sweepstakes games outright.

New York’s regulatory landscape is getting thorny, and VGW’s not sticking around to get pricked. Addabbo’s bill, introduced in April, targets sweepstakes’ dual-currency model, where players use free Sweeps Coins or buy Gold Coins to get more, redeemable for cash, slapping violators with license losses and penalties.

“The risk associated with regulatory compliance for Sweeps Coins isn’t viable anymore,” VGW’s spokesperson hinted to Sweepsy.com, noting the bill’s signal was enough to pull out.

The Withdrawal Timeline

VGW’s departure is a slow roll, giving players time to adjust. Starting June 2, 2025, no new Sweeps Coins can be earned, and mailed-in requests won’t be honored.

Players can use existing Sweeps Coins for gameplay until July 2, when that option shuts down. Got coins left? You can redeem them for prizes until August 1, after which all Sweeps Coin functions vanish. “We’re 100 percent focused on ensuring players are fully informed and this transition is seamless,” the VGW spokesperson told Sweepsy, stressing that free-to-play Gold Coin games will stay untouched for New Yorkers.

A Bigger Industry Trend

VGW’s not alone in fleeing New York’s regulatory storm. High 5 Casino, McLuck, and Funzpoints have also bailed, spooked by the same legal buzz. New York’s one of seven states VGW’s ditched, alongside Montana, where a sweepstakes ban takes effect October 2025.

“This decision wasn’t taken lightly and was made in the best interests of all our stakeholders,” VGW told Sweepsy, acknowledging players’ disappointment after years of play. The sweepstakes model, once a legal loophole for online gaming, is crumbling under scrutiny, with states like Louisiana and New Jersey eyeing similar bans.

VGW’s framing itself as a compliance champ, eager to shape the future of sweepstakes. “We acknowledge increased interest in our innovative industry and are committed to respectful engagement on establishing modern regulatory structures,” the spokesperson told, touting VGW’s decade-long track record of “safe, responsible” gaming in North America.