LuckyLand Slots Winds Down as Legal Reality Bites

LuckyLand Slots is entering its final week of operation in the U.S. as legal headwinds catch up. However, other sister brands, such as Chumba Casino, will continue to accept customers. 

The popular sweepstakes casino has been operating in North America since 2018. Players in 44 states have been able to play slots and table games using a dual-currency model.

However, legal challenges against sweepstakes casinos in multiple states have forced owner VGW’s hand.

Gameplay to End August 24, Redemption September

The shutdown of LuckyLand Slots is being carried out in phases. Players were already stopped from purchasing Gold Coins earlier this month. They are essential for playing online slots and other games on the site.

However, LuckyLand will allow customers to redeem Sweeps Coins for gift cards and other prizes until September 14.

VGW (Virtual Gaming Worlds) Sweepstakes Casinos Still in Operation

VGW pioneered the sweepstakes casino industry, launching Chumba Casino in 2012.

It followed it up with the first sweepstakes poker site, Global Poker. LuckyLand Casino is a new addition to the VGW family.

It has the same feel as LuckyLand Slots, but with a more advanced back end. LuckyLand Casino is unaffected by the shutdown of LuckyLand Slots.

• Chumba Casino
• Global Poker
• LuckyLand Casino

Sweepstakes Casinos Feel the Legal Pinch

The past 12 to 18 months have seen a major upheaval of the sweepstakes casino industry in the U.S. Regulators are beginning to crack down on what they see as “illegal” online casino gambling, despite the so-called “dual-currency” model in effect.

One state is Iowa, where sweepstakes casinos operating without a gambling license face closure.

As with prediction markets, state lawyers have been busy sending cease-and-desist letters to multiple operators. In Illinois alone, over 60 such letters have been sent to sweepstakes casinos this year. However, compliance has been patchy.

California has taken the additional step of officially banning all sweepstakes casinos. Last month, Maine followed suit by banning sweepstakes casinos entirely.

Sweepstakes Casinos Not Waiting Around

Curiously, some sweepstakes casinos aren’t waiting for new anti-gambling laws to come into effect before closing.

LuckyLand Slots pre-empted the further wave of legal action by closing its virtual doors. It follows a similar pattern to what was seen in Tennessee in May, when Club WPT Gold restricted its customers there from purchasing Gold Coins before a new law was even signed.

Interestingly, VGW had opposed the new anti-sweeps casino law in Tennessee in March. When that fell on deaf ears, it decided to pull all of its sweepstakes casino brands from the state after HB 1885 was introduced, including Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.

With more states pursuing a stricter position on sweepstakes casinos, LuckyLand Slot probably won’t be the last to go.