Sweepstakes casino operator VGW has announced that it will shut down the brand LuckyLand Slots. The platform will cease operations completely in September. Other brands in the group, including LuckyLand Casino, Chumba Casino, and Global Poker, will continue to operate.
The company launched LuckyLand Casino in November last year. At that time, it said it was evaluating its options with LuckyLand Slots, but had not made any definitive decisions.
A VGW spokesperson told CasinoBeats, “We can confirm that after eight years of LuckyLand Slots providing players with thrills, excitement and free-to-play fun, we have made the decision to close the brand on 24 August, 2026.”
“This decision wasn’t taken lightly and was made as we shift our focus towards our growing stable of other brands – the recently launched LuckyLand Casino, our category leaders Chumba Casino and Global Poker, and new Match 3 brand, Monopoly Match.”
LuckyLand Slots to Shut Down in Stages
In an announcement to players on Tuesday, the company confirmed LuckyLand Slots will be discontinued. The shutdown will be a staged process:
- Effective August 3, 2026, you will no longer be able to purchase Gold Coins on LuckyLand Slots, but you can continue to play using any Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins remaining in your account.
- From August 24, 2026, you will no longer be able to play our games. However, you will still be able to redeem your Sweeps Coins for prizes.
- As of September 14, 2026, you will no longer be able to make any further redemption requests, and you will no longer have access to LuckyLand Slots.
The spokesperson added, “We want to thank our players for being part of LuckyLand Slots’ incredible journey, and our top priority is ensuring they are fully informed about what this means for them, and that the transition is as smooth as possible.”
Other Brands Remain Operational in Most States
When launching LuckyLand Casino, it said the inclusion of “casino” in the brand name reflects “an enhanced, broader experience for players seeking a wide range of free-to-play games and features.”
It also said that the closure of LuckyLand Slots will not affect Global Poker or Chumba Casino. The three brands within the VGW group will continue to operate in many US states. The platforms list the following as restricted territories:
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Tennessee
- Washington
- West Virginia
That list has grown as more states pass explicit bans on the dual-currency model that the platforms utilize to offer casino gaming. In addition to those states, VGW also wound up operations in Canada last year.
VGW Future Uncertain After Escalante Resignation
VGW is facing a turbulent period following the resignation of founder Lawrence Escalante as CEO earlier this month. Escalante is facing a string of domestic abuse and drug charges.
Following his arrest in January, he took a leave of absence from the company. On July 3, he confirmed his resignation. In a statement, the company said, “he had decided to resign to focus on personal matters, as well as his private business, investing and philanthropic interests at his family office.”
Former senior executive Mats Johnson has been serving as interim CEO since Escalante took his leave of absence. He will continue in the role until the company appoints a permanent successor.
There was no indication that Escalante would surrender any of his stake in the company, which he took private last year. Shareholders approved his offer to buy the remaining 30% of shares he did not own, which valued the company at A$3.2 billion ($2.1 billion).
Prosecutors are considering freezing his assets, saying, “He has the means to be able to offer financial gain for these parties to change their stories or drop the charges.”
While the case remains ongoing, his bail was varied last month to allow him to visit his mother in Sydney.
