Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioVGW, the parent company of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, has announced that it will end Promotional Play (Sweeps Coins) in Mississippi, effective July 31. The phased exit marks the latest move in the company’s broader retreat from US states facing increased scrutiny of sweepstakes casino models.
The decision comes only days after the company announced an identical phased-out exit from New Jersey and expands a growing list of jurisdictions where VGW has ceased operations in recent months.
Promotional Play to End Starting July 31
VGW notified Mississippi customers via email that it will end Promotional Play. A Reddit user shared an image of the email, which stated:
“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.”
VGW will phase out its Promotional Play exit in three stages:
- July 31: Users cannot collect any more Sweeps Coins through promotions, mail-in requests, or as a free gift with Gold Coin package purchase. Players can still use their available Sweeps Coins to play games on the platform.
- August 14: Users can no longer play with Sweeps Coins. However, they can still lodge redemption requests.
- September 4: VGW will no longer process redemption requests.
VGW has also reminded users that they can continue playing for fun using Gold Coins in Mississippi past that date.
No Indications of Mass Exits from Mississippi
VGW’s exit from Mississippi is likely a direct response to a cease-and-desist order it received from the Mississippi Gaming Commission in June. Notably, the order targeted several offshore online casinos, with Chumba Casino being the only sweepstakes operator.
CasinoBeats checked whether other prominent operators have left Mississippi, which, based on recent developments in different states, would indicate a mass exit is likely.
A handful of platforms that list the state as an ineligible jurisdiction include:
- Baba Casino
- Carnival Citi
- Pulsz Casino and Pulsz Bingo (certain promotions)
- Sidepot Casino
Growing List of Exits for VGW
With Mississippi and New Jersey, the list of states where VGW’s brands are unavailable has grown to over 10 in just a couple of months. The complete list of VGW’s ineligible states includes:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi (starting July 31)
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Washington
Residents of Idaho, Michigan, Montana, and Washington have long been unable to play on the platforms. In the fall of 2024, VGW exited Connecticut following a regulatory crackdown.
In the spring of 2025, the company also exited Delaware after it received a second cease-and-desist order. VGW had ignored a previous order for two years.
Over the past two months, the company has also exited operations in Louisiana, Nevada, and New York.
Could Maryland and West Virginia be Next?
Given that VGW seems to be complying with cease-and-desist orders, it is important to note that the company has ignored such orders from Maryland. The state gambling regulator warned the company at the beginning of the year, but there was no response.
Also, West Virginia’s Attorney General, John McCuskey, recently shared that he has sent 47 subpoenas to sweepstakes casinos, without naming them.
While it’s unknown whether VGW’s platforms are on the list, the company could exit the Mountain State, as over 20 other sites have already done so.
