An Exit Order
The Maryland Gaming Commission has ordered Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots to stop taking action in the state, hitting both platforms with cease-and-desist letters.
Regulators say the sites were offering casino games, sweepstakes, and in Chumba’s case even online poker to Maryland players without legal authorization. Both platforms use the sweepstakes setup that’s powered the industry for years, but Maryland wasn’t persuaded.
According to the Commission, the games boil down to three things the state cares about most: chance, prize, and payment. Put those together and, in Maryland’s eyes, you’re not running a promotion, you’re gambling. And in Maryland, gambling is only legal if the state explicitly says so.
VGW, the company behind both casinos, declined to comment.
Why Maryland Lost Patience with Sweeps Casinos
In the cease-and-desist letters, the commission points to Maryland Criminal Law Article §12-113, which draws a very clear line: if gambling isn’t expressly permitted, it’s forbidden. No gray zone. No wink-and-nod loopholes. No “but it’s entertainment” disclaimers.
The Commission concluded that Chumba and LuckyLand weren’t offering harmless promotional sweepstakes. They were offering casino-style games, including online poker on Chumba, to Maryland residents without approval.
The sweeps model has survived for years by pretending it lived in a legal in-between space. Maryland essentially walked in, turned on the lights, and said: This is just gambling with extra paperwork.
What Happens Next
Both operators now have 10 days to respond to the Commission.
In that response, they have to confirm that they’ll stop offering the games in Maryland, give a firm end date, and explain how they plan to shut everything down in line with state law.
If they fail to do that, Maryland can block them from getting any future gaming license, registration, or certification. In the casino world, that’s a door you don’t want slammed shut.
What It Means for Maryland Players
If you’re in Maryland and you play on Chumba or LuckyLand, buckle up — things may change quickly.
- Access to the sites may disappear without warning
- Sweeps coins or gold coins may not be redeemable for long
- Pending withdrawals should happen immediately
- Accounts may be restricted or closed as operators shift to compliance mode
In short, if you’ve got value tied up in either platform, now is the time to take care of it, because when a sweeps casino gets a cease-and-desist, players feel the tremors first.
A Bigger Moment for the Sweeps Industry
Maryland isn’t acting alone, it’s following New Jersey, which recently took its own shot at VGW-operated sweeps casinos. More regulators are starting to ask the same basic question: if a product looks like gambling and pays out like gambling, why should it be treated as anything else?
That’s not great news for an industry that’s spent years operating in a gray area.
To make things even more interesting, Maryland regulators also spent the week warning operators about getting involved in prediction markets, saying even indirect involvement could hurt their licensing prospects. When regulators start cleaning house, they don’t usually stop at one room.
And with a recent study showing 71% of Maryland residents oppose online gambling, the state isn’t exactly fighting public opinion here.
What Comes Next
For operators, Maryland’s message is crystal clear: Don’t try to sweepstakes your way around gambling laws.
For players: Redeem early, redeem often, because you never know who’s getting hit next.
And for the industry? This could be another domino falling in what increasingly looks like a nationwide reevaluation of sweeps casinos, and the legal loopholes they depend on.
Blaise Luis
