VGW, the influential owner of Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, has alerted players in New Jersey to its plans to shut down sweepstakes operations in that state.
Per an email sent out this week, VGW will begin “phasing out” the Sweeps Coins options on its sites on July 29 — but players will still be able to play social casino games with Gold Coins.
“We understand this news may be disappointing,” the email reads, “and want to assure you that this decision wasn’t made lightly — it was carefully considered based on several business factors.”
Starting July 29 and ending Sept. 24
Here is the timeline for the step-by-step New Jersey sweeps exist, per VGW’s email.
- Starting July 29: Players won’t be able to earn Sweeps Coins in any way — this includes login rewards, contests, or Gold Coin purchases. Players also won’t be able to generate postal request codes after this date. But they’ll still be able to use any Sweeps Coins that were already in their account.
- Starting Aug. 26: Sweeps Coins will no longer be accepted for gameplay, and any mail-in requests for Sweeps Coins submitted will not be processed. However, players will still be able to redeem their existing Sweeps Coins for prizes.
- Starting Sept. 24: Players will no longer be able to make Sweeps Coins redemptions, marking the full closure of the Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker sweepstakes platforms in New Jersey.
“While Promotional Play will no longer be available,” the email reads, “you’ll still be able to enjoy all your favorite games in Standard Play using Gold Coins.”
VGW joins the New Jersey exodus after AB5447
The “business factors” the VGW email refers to are pretty straightforward: New Jersey passed Assembly Bill 5447, which outlaws online sweepstakes casinos, on June 30. It has not yet been signed by Gov. Phil Murphy, but he’s either expected to sign it or to give pocket approval, which happens when a bill is certified by default if the New Jersey governor doesn’t sign it within 45 days of receiving it from the Legislature.
The 45th day after June 30 is Aug. 14.
VGW is not alone in its pre-Murphy signature or pocket approval restriction in New Jersey. Funzpoints and Spree just added New Jersey to their lists of excluded states, although, unlike VGW those were full platform exits, including social games.
Before that, Clubs Casino, Clubs Poker, and LuckySlots.us announced their departures.
Some operators, such as Stake.us, High 5 Casino, and B-Two Operations — which owns McLuck, Mega Bonanza, and Hello Millions, among others — left the New Jersey market well before Assembly Bill 5447 was proposed.
For Stake.us and High 5, the decision to leave was part of a broader move to stop offering services in states where real-money online casinos are already operating, such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Gold Coin games only for VGW in these states
VGW hasn’t updated its terms and conditions yet. When Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker do shut off access to sweeps games in New Jersey, their list of states with restricted access (Gold Coin play only) will be:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Washington
Connecticut, Montana, New Jersey, and New York all passed legislation banning online sweepstakes gameplay this year. VGW pulled its sweeps platforms out of New York in late May. (The New York bill passed on June 17, so VGW moved more quickly with its New York restriction than its New Jersey restriction.)
Why Gold Coin games are still allowed
Many operators leaving states in 2025 are pulling their entire platforms — both their social (Gold Coins) and sweeps (Sweeps Coins) games.
VGW sites, however, are leaving their Gold Coin games open.
In New Jersey, VGW is safe to keep its Gold Coin games operating because the language in AB5447 outlaws a sweepstakes promotion using casino-style games where players can win “a virtual facsimile thereof, that can be exchanged, sold, or redeemed, either directly or indirectly through means such as a third-party marketplace, external service, or cash-out function, for cash, a cash equivalent, or merchandise.”
Translation: Sweeps Coins.
But, according to that language, Gold Coins are OK. Because, while Gold Coins can be purchased with real money, they cannot be redeemed for real money and can only be used in the social casino games. Think, Candy Crush.
Another way VGW is sticking around in NJ …
In addition to leaving its social casinos up and running, VGW also still pulls revenue in New Jersey from another source:
Lottery courier sales.
VGW owns a 13.9% stake in 99Dynamics, which owns Jackpot.com, one of the top lottery courier apps in the United States.
And while there is mounting opposition to a state-run online lottery in New Jersey, couriers are welcomed and, actually, are regulated. (It’s the same in New York.)
Now, VGW’s small share of Jackpot.com’s revenue (which pales in comparison to revenue for market leader Jackpocket) doesn’t make a dent in the sweeps gaming behemoth’s bottom line.
But it’s still something. And, obviously, will VGW take anything it can get in New Jersey now that AB5447 has taken an axe to its NJ revenue.
Starting July 29, that is.
