Heavily Scrutinized VGW Launches New Chumba Casino iOS App

Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) has launched a new Chumba Casino iOS app for US players, bringing Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins gaming to iPhones and iPads. The release comes less than two months after the sweepstakes casino operator agreed to an $8 million settlement in New York.

Good to know

• Chumba Casino now offers its full game catalog through a dedicated Apple App Store application.
• VGW will gradually replace Chumba Lite, which only supports Standard Play.
• New York secured an $8 million settlement from VGW over sweepstakes operations involving Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and Luckyland Slots.

Chumba Casino App Arrives as Sweepstakes Rules Tighten

The new app arrives during a difficult period for sweepstakes casino operators in several US states. In September, New York Attorney General Letitia James secured $8 million from VGW following an investigation into its virtual currency gaming model.

Investigators found that customers could receive approximately one Sweeps Coin for every dollar spent on the platforms. Because players could redeem those coins for cash or prizes, authorities argued that the model violated state gambling laws.

VGW had already withdrawn virtual coin gambling from New York after receiving a cease-and-desist letter in June 2025. New York also signed a broader sweepstakes casino ban into law in December 2025.

However, VGW continues operating Chumba Casino in permitted US jurisdictions, and the new iPhone app gives eligible customers another way to access its games.

New iPhone App Replaces Chumba Lite

For existing customers, the biggest difference concerns Promotional Play. Chumba Lite only offered Gold Coins, while the replacement supports Sweeps Coins in states where VGW permits sweepstakes gaming.

The Apple App Store release also includes progressive jackpots, Social Plus titles, live social casino games, and exclusive slots.

Meanwhile, players can switch between the website and the app without losing their account history or balances. VGW synchronizes that information across both platforms.

Security features include Face ID, Touch ID, identity verification, and a minimum age requirement of 21.

VGW plans to retire Chumba Lite gradually and will contact existing users about transferring to the new application.

Scott Milford, Chief Product & Revenue Officer at VGW, said:

“Bringing Chumba Casino to the Apple App Store is an exciting milestone for VGW as we continue to expand our reach and further improve our player experience.” 

The company has not announced a specific shutdown date for Chumba Lite.

History of Lawsuits

VGW also faced several class action lawsuits over its sweepstakes casino model. In 2024, VGW Malta Ltd. agreed to pay $11.75 million to settle a Kentucky class action case. Another major lawsuit followed in California in August 2025, targeting VGW and several business partners, including payment processors Trustly and Yodlee, identity verification provider Jumio, and slots influencer Brian Christopher.

The California complaint covered alleged gambling losses involving players across 14 states and Washington, D.C. and accused the defendants of supporting unlicensed online gambling operations involving platforms such as Chumba Casino.

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