VGW Exits 12 States as Sweepstakes Bans Force New Brands

Casino

By lines

May 28, 2026

Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), the sweepstakes casino giant behind Chumba Casino, has exited at least 12 US states. The Perth-based operator launched LuckyLand Casino in late 2025 as statutory sweepstakes bans tightened. VGW also confirmed United Slots, positioned as a Social Plus brand, for launch in 2026.

New Brands Signal a Pivot Under Regulatory Pressure

LuckyLand Casino focuses on table games and live dealer titles. The table-game focus differentiates LuckyLand Casino from VGW’s slot-dominant flagship brands, Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots. VGW described United Slots as a new centralized-tech platform. United Slots serves all VGW brands with a Social Plus identity built on connection.

VGW’s state exits include California, Tennessee, West Virginia, and nine other markets since 2025. California’s Assembly Bill 831 took effect January 1, 2026, removing an estimated 20 percent of the sweepstakes segment’s national revenue. Tennessee’s sweepstakes ban took effect immediately upon Governor Bill Lee’s signature in May 2026. Each exit followed either a statutory ban or VGW’s own decision to withdraw ahead of enforcement deadlines.

The brand-family approach lets VGW test new models without forcing legacy Chumba and Global Poker users through a full rebrand. ProphetX took a different path from VGW. ProphetX applied for federal CFTC oversight in November 2025 and abandoned the sweepstakes label entirely. McLuck and Pulsz have each added visible responsible-play disclosures to main player flows in 2026.

Eight US states now carry explicit statutory bans on dual-currency sweepstakes platforms. California, Connecticut, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Oklahoma are the eight states with enacted bans. Indiana’s sweepstakes casino ban takes effect July 1, 2026. At least 27 additional states have considered similar proposals during the current legislative session.