No More WOW in the Bayou
WOW Vegas is officially leaving Louisiana. The free-to-play sweepstakes casino notified users on Monday that it will stop accepting customers in the state starting July 11, after Louisiana regulators issued a wave of enforcement actions targeting unlicensed gaming platforms.
The move comes in direct response to actions by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB), which has begun targeting sweepstakes casino operators through existing regulatory authority, even though no new law has been passed to explicitly ban these platforms.
Although a proposed legislative ban was vetoed earlier this year, the board didn’t wait. It’s enforcing the rules already on the books.
40+ Cease-and-Desist Letters Sent
WOW Vegas isn’t facing the heat alone. Since Senate Bill 181 was vetoed, The LGCB has issued more than 40 cease-and-desist orders to both offshore sportsbooks and sweepstakes casino operators. The list includes several major names like:
- Bovada
- BetOnline
- Blazesoft
- Fliff
- BetWhale
- Kickr
- Yellow Social Interactive
- VGW Holdings (parent company of Chumba and LuckyLand)
The board’s message is simple: if you’re not licensed, you’re not welcome in Louisiana, and we don’t need new laws to make sure of that.
Governor Vetoes Sweeps Ban, Says Regulator Has It Covered
This enforcement campaign follows an unexpected political twist. Earlier this year, Louisiana lawmakers passed Senate Bill 181, which would have criminalized the operation and promotion of sweepstakes casinos and even targeted their suppliers.
But Governor Jeff Landry vetoed the bill, calling it unnecessary. In his veto letter, Landry said the LGCB already has full authority to regulate and enforce gaming laws in the state.
“Our current Louisiana Gaming Control Board has the regulatory authority, control, and jurisdiction over all aspects of gaming activities and operations,” Landry wrote.
He also criticized the bill’s language as overly broad, warning that it could unintentionally criminalize legal promotions and sweep up businesses with no connection to gambling.
Trade Groups Go Quiet
So far, neither the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) nor the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) has issued a public response to WOW Vegas’s exit or the LGCB’s actions.
But earlier this year, the SGLA opposed SB 181 in strong terms, accusing lawmakers of falling for what it called “a campaign of deliberate misinformation” led by interests trying to wipe out legitimate competition.
The SGLA represents some of the biggest names in the sweepstakes ecosystem, including operator B-Two Operations, payment processor Nuvei, and VGW, the parent company of Chumba and LuckyLand, and they are all facing the regulatory heat in Louisiana.
For them, what happens in one state could quickly ripple nationwide.
LGCB: No Bill? No Problem
Even without SB 181 becoming law, the LGCB is flexing its existing authority. In a post-veto press release, the board reaffirmed it has been actively issuing cease-and-desist letters, and it’s not slowing down.
The announcement came just days after sweepstakes advocates briefly celebrated the governor’s veto, with trade groups calling it a win for fair competition. But the LGCB responded quickly, issuing over 40 enforcement notices in coordination with the Attorney General and State Police.
The board’s message: enforcement doesn’t have to wait on new laws. For WOW Vegas, the writing was on the wall, and leaving voluntarily was likely the safer route.
What This Means for the Industry
Louisiana’s regulatory strategy marks a growing trend: instead of waiting on complex legislation, some states are pushing operators out through existing enforcement tools. It’s quicker, it’s quieter, and so far, it’s working.
WOW Vegas’s departure shows that even large, free-to-play platforms are rethinking their position in states that start to enforce aggressively.
Blaise Luis
