‘Decision wasn’t taken lightly’ – VGW confirms withdrawal of New Jersey sweepstakes
The operator is officially pulling its Chumba Casino and Luckyland Casino sweepstakes products from the state.
Key points:
– VGW has withdrawn its sweepstakes casino offerings from New Jersey
– Players in the region will retain access to the platform’s free-to-play titles
– This move comes ahead of an imminent sweepstakes ban in the state
Operator VGW has confirmed that its Chumba Casino and Luckyland Casino sweepstakes offerings will no longer be available to players in the state market of New Jersey.
Indeed, this move comes prior to new regulatory enforcement in the Garden State which will see sweepstakes officially banned. Lawmakers in New Jersey officially landed on the decision to prohibit sweepstakes casinos earlier this month – being the first US state to do so despite having previously looked the most likely candidate to regulate the practice.
Now, as clarified by the operator, players in New Jersey will still be able to access the platform’s free-to-play titles via its Gold Coin system – with the company reiterating customers will be informed of any further adjustments.
Speaking exclusively to Gambling Insider, a VGW spokesperson provided the following comment on the news: “We can confirm that following careful consideration, we’ve informed players of a decision to phase out Promotional Play (sweepstakes promotions) in the state of New Jersey. We understand this is an adjustment after many years and some players may be disappointed. This decision wasn’t taken lightly and was made in the best interests of all our stakeholders following recent decisions by legislators.
“VGW has operated in North America for more than a decade, creating not only great games, user experiences and entertainment but ensuring this is done safely, responsibly and at the highest level of standards. As we’ve previously said, we acknowledge increased interest in our innovative industry that millions of Americans enjoy, and are committed to respectful engagement on establishing modern, appropriate regulatory and taxation structures that benefit players and states alike. That remains the case in New Jersey, as it does in all states.”
Good to know: Reports also indicate that VGW is set to exit the Mississippi market following a cease-and-desist filed by the state’s gambling operator
VGW has fallen under the regulatory microscope for its sweepstakes operations across the US this year – with the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement also having submitted a cease-and-desist order against VGW Luckyland in April for illegal online slot activity.
More recently, in May, the operator also withdrew its sweepstakes casino operations from New York in anticipation of Senate Bill 5935 to ban sweepstakes casinos in the state.
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