Gambling company VGW ceases sweepstakes operations in Mississippi and New Jersey
Virtual Gaming Worlds Phases Out Sweepstakes Coins in Mississippi and New Jersey
Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) has announced that it will be phasing out the use of Sweepstakes Coins in Mississippi and New Jersey starting July 31, 2025. This decision comes as the company transitions from its dual currency system to a more traditional social casino model that uses only Gold Coins.
From July 31, players in these states will no longer receive or acquire Sweepstakes Coins via login bonuses, competitions, or promotional purchases. Postal request codes for Sweepstakes Coins will be discontinued, and gameplay with Sweepstakes Coins will be disabled starting August 14, 2025. Prize redemption for Sweepstakes Coins will end September 4, 2025.
This move mirrors previous changes in other states like Louisiana, where VGW phased out Sweepstakes Coins shortly after regulatory pressure from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. While VGW attributes the change primarily to business considerations, regulatory or legal concerns may also be part of the background rationale.
In New Jersey, the state legislature has passed Bill A5447, aiming to prohibit the operation of sweepstakes casinos. Governor Phil Murphy needs to approve the bill for it to become law. If he takes no action, the bill will automatically become law on August 14.
VGW has started charging purchases as a reflection of increased regulatory oversight in the United States. The company reassures players that they will continue offering games with Gold Coins without the promotional Sweepstakes Coins system.
From August 14, mail-in requests will no longer be accepted. Players are encouraged to submit their redemption requests until September 4, after which the ability to generate postal request codes will be discontinued.
Sources: [1] Virtual Gaming Worlds (2021). Press Release: VGW Announces Phase Out of Sweepstakes Coins in Mississippi and New Jersey [2] Virtual Gaming Worlds (2021). Regulatory Update: VGW Phases Out Sweepstakes Coins in Louisiana
Players in Mississippi and New Jersey will no longer be able to play games using Sweepstakes Coins from August 14, 2025, as Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) plans to phase out these coins and shift to a traditional casino model with technology-based Gold Coins. In line with this change, VGW will no longer offer poker, slots, or any other games at its casinos using Sweepstakes Coins, focusing instead on sport-themed games using Gold Coins.
