Continuing New York Exodus
Another sweepstakes operator is leaving New York. This time, it’s VGW, and they’re doing it in stages.
The company behind Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and LuckyLand Slots just announced a complete wind-down of Sweeps Coin functionality in New York, with all redemptions cut off by August 1, 2025.
In its latest update, the social casino operator laid out a three-stage wind-down of its promotional currency system in New York, which is yet another sign of how regulatory pressure is reshaping the sweepstakes space.
Here’s how the phase-out will roll out:
June 2: No More New Sweeps Coins
Starting June 2, players in New York will no longer be able to collect new Sweeps Coins, especially from daily logins, competitions, or Gold Coin purchases. Even mail-in request codes (which is one of the hallmarks of sweepstakes casino compliance) will be shut off on this date.
Bottom Line: You can still use whatever’s left in your account, but nothing new is coming in.
July 2: Gameplay Ends
One month later, any remaining Sweeps Coins in New York accounts will stop being usable for gameplay. Players also won’t be able to submit mail-in requests for more Sweeps Coins, as that channel will close down completely.
Bottom Line: You can still redeem prizes… but that window’s closing fast.
August 1: Redemption Deadline
This is the final cut-off. As of August 1, no more prize redemptions will be accepted for Sweeps Coins in New York. Any unredeemed winnings at that point? Gone.
Why It’s Happening
VGW didn’t give a public reason for the change, but the writing’s pretty clear on the wall. New York lawmakers are actively targeting sweepstakes-style platforms with proposed legislation that could shut the whole model down.
Case in point: Senate Bill S5935, which was introduced by Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr., aims to prohibit sweepstakes casinos altogether by treating them like unlicensed online gambling. It specifically goes after dual-currency games that simulate real casino experiences, which is exactly the sweepstakes model
Several platforms, including High 5 Casino, McLuck, and Funzpoints, have already pulled out of the state in anticipation.
VGW, for its part, has had a rocky stretch on the compliance front. Before New York, it faced cease-and-desist orders in Connecticut, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, and Washington. Earlier this year, it fully shut down Global Poker in Nevada, with account access ending in April.
The company hasn’t said whether it plans to return if laws change. For now, it’s clearly focused on compliance, risk management, and winding down operations where the ground is shifting fast.
The Bigger Picture
VGW’s exit is part of a much larger shakeup happening across the U.S. sweepstakes casino space. What used to be a legal grey area — where operators leaned on “no purchase necessary” disclaimers — is now a red-hot target for state lawmakers.
While the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) and SPGA have emerged to advocate for operators, some states aren’t waiting around. They’re writing their own rules.
So VGW’s latest move is not just about New York. It’s about protecting its business model in states where it still has room to operate, and avoiding a messy regulatory fight where there’s no room to operate.
What New York Players Need to Do
If you’ve got Sweeps Coins in your account:
- Use them before July 2
- Redeem them before August 1
- Mail-in requests? Don’t bother — they’re already being phased out
Once the lights go out in August, there’s no going back.
Blaise Luis
