VGW Pulls Sweepstakes Casino Play from Mississippi

Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) is preparing to shut down sweepstakes gaming in Mississippi, ending promotional play on its popular sites Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker.

Good to know

• July 31: End of Sweepstakes Coin promotions and coin package sales.
• Aug. 14: Last day to play with Sweeps Coins.
• Sept. 14: Deadline for players to redeem remaining Sweeps Coins.

VGW told Mississippi players that the first phase of its exit would begin on July 31, ending all Sweepstakes Coin promotions and the sale of coin packages.

Players can still use Sweeps Coins to play games for a short time, but that window closes on Aug. 14. After that, only redemption requests for prizes or cash will be allowed, with a final cutoff date of Sept. 14.

In its customer email, VGW acknowledged the disappointment some players may feel, writing:

“We understand this news might be disappointing, and want to assure you that this decision wasn’t made lightly – it was carefully considered based on several business factors.”

What Are Sweepstakes Casinos?

Sweepstakes casinos use a two-currency model:

1. Gold Coins can only be used to play games and earn more Gold Coins
2. Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for prizes or cash

These unregulated platforms have come under state-level scrutiny. Mississippi lawmakers debated banning sweepstakes casinos earlier this year. While the legislation failed, regulators acted anyway, issuing 10 cease-and-desist letters to operators including Chumba Casino in June.

Increased Pressure

Mississippi isn’t the only state where VGW is retreating. Just days ago, the company pulled Sweeps Coin services from New Jersey, which passed a law banning sweepstakes casinos effective Aug. 14.

VGW has also introduced a state-based sales tax on its Gold Coins for some players, though the company has not clarified which states are affected.

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