TLDR
- VGW, the company behind Chumba Casino, Global Poker and Luckyland Slots, reportedly still operates in Arizona.
- The Arizona Department of Gaming ordered VGW to stop operating in November 2024.
- No civil or criminal action has followed, according to an Arizona Republic investigation.
- VGW and related businesses reportedly spent about $350,000 lobbying officials across the US.
- Arizona regulators still consider VGW’s activities illegal and are weighing enforcement options.
Virtual Gaming Worlds, known as VGW, has reportedly kept running its sweepstakes casino sites in Arizona. This is nearly two years after state regulators ordered the company to stop.
The finding comes from an investigation by the Arizona Republic. So far, no civil or criminal action has been taken against the company.
VGW runs Chumba Casino, Global Poker and Luckyland Slots. The company is based in Australia.
Arizona Order Has Not Led to Action
The Arizona Department of Gaming issued a cease-and-desist order against VGW in November 2024. The order said the company’s platforms offered illegal gambling.
Regulators warned at the time that VGW could face civil or criminal charges. Those charges have not been filed.
The state’s case centers on how VGW’s sites work. Users can buy virtual currency, play games, and redeem winnings for cash or other prizes.
The Department said offering free-to-play options does not change the nature of the activity. In its view, the model still counts as gambling under state law.
VGW disagrees. The company argues that sweepstakes platforms do not fall under state gambling laws.
Department of Gaming spokesperson Jessica Roza reportedly said the agency still considers VGW’s activities illegal. She said the agency is assessing possible enforcement action.
VGW’s overseas location makes bringing a case difficult. This has been cited as one of the challenges facing regulators.
Lobbying Spending Draws Attention
VGW’s political spending has also come under scrutiny. The company and its related businesses reportedly spent about $350,000 lobbying Democratic and Republican officials across the US.
There is no evidence that these donations affected the Arizona case. However, the lack of visible action against a major operator has raised questions.
VGW spokesperson Michael Bennet previously said the company was confident it followed relevant laws and regulations. He said VGW was open to talking with states about rules for its dual-currency model.
The company has not commented on its continued operations in Arizona. It has also not responded publicly to the regulator’s warnings.
The Arizona case is part of wider pushback against dual-currency sweepstakes casinos in the US. Several states have already banned these sites, and others are taking legal action.
VGW is one of the largest sweepstakes operators in the country. That makes it a main target for regulators and prosecutors.
For now, the Arizona Department of Gaming has not announced any formal enforcement move. The agency says it is still weighing its options against the company.
