Here’s What’s Changing, and When
VGW’s update breaks the transition into three milestones:
- April 23, 2025: Delaware players will no longer be able to collect Sweeps Coins. That includes login bonuses, mail-in requests, and any bonus Sweeps Coins tied to Gold Coin purchases.
- May 23, 2025: Players can continue using any Sweeps Coins remaining in their accounts until this date. After then, players would no longer be able to use Sweeps Coins for gameplay.
- July 23, 2025: Final deadline. Any unredeemed Sweeps Coins will expire, and players will lose the ability to exchange them for prizes or cash equivalents.
Throughout the process, Gold Coin games remain available, meaning players can still enjoy Chumba Casino, LuckyLand, and Global Poker for entertainment, but without the chance to redeem prizes.
Why Now? A Closer Look at the Legal Backdrop
VGW hasn’t cited a specific reason for its Delaware exit beyond “business considerations,” but the writing’s been on the wall for some time.
Back in 2023, Delaware’s Division of Gaming Enforcement sent VGW a cease-and-desist, arguing that its sweepstakes setup didn’t comply with state law. At the time, VGW paused operations and never resumed full functionality. Now, this phaseout makes that pause permanent.
It’s not just Delaware, either. VGW recently exited Michigan under similar pressure, and it’s been on the receiving end of warnings or restrictions in several other states. In 2024, the company quietly raised its minimum player age from 18 to 21—a move many saw as a way to get ahead of potential legal heat.
It’s Not Just Delaware
VGW isn’t the only one feeling the heat. As we’ve covered, states like Maryland and Mississippi have already passed, or are close to passing laws that ban sweepstakes-style casinos altogether, especially those that rely on dual-currency models like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.
And then there’s New York, where a proposed bill doesn’t just target the platforms, it goes after everyone involved: software providers, payment processors, even affiliates. It’s one of the toughest and strictest positions we’ve seen from any state so far.
This changing environment has forced even the largest players in the space to rethink how, and where they operate.
What Players in Delaware Need to Know
If you’re a Chumba, LuckyLand, or Global Poker user in Delaware, you’ll still be able to log in and play using Gold Coins, which are used for entertainment-only gameplay. But your ability to collect, use, or redeem Sweeps Coins will start disappearing as of April 23.
VGW says all affected users will receive direct emails outlining the transition, and customer support will be available for any questions. Here’s the key message the company is sharing:
“VGW has advised that from April 23, 2025, we will be phasing out Promotional Play (Sweeps Coins) in the state of Delaware. However, players will still be able to play and enjoy their games in Standard Play using Gold Coins. All impacted players will receive an email with further details.”
If you’ve got Sweeps Coins in your account, now’s the time to make use of them.
A Bigger Shift for Sweepstakes Gaming?
VGW’s Delaware exit might be the latest domino to fall, but it probably won’t be the last. Lawmakers across the country are rethinking how sweepstakes platforms should operate, and more importantly, who should be held accountable. The pressure isn’t letting up anytime soon.
That said, VGW isn’t disappearing. The company pulled in $2.8 billion in revenue, and over $200 million in profit, in just the last half of 2023. It’s still one of the biggest names in digital gaming in the U.S., and it’s not the only one navigating this new legal terrain.
What’s clear is that sweepstakes gaming is at a turning point. And for players and platforms alike, the choices made in one state may quickly ripple across the rest.
Blaise Luis
