VGW is pulling its sweepstakes-style promotional play from Tennessee, making it the most recent firm to again away because the state will increase its scrutiny of unlicensed and sweepstakes playing websites. The transfer comes only a few weeks after the corporate stopped offering sweepstakes play in West Virginia.
A VGW spokesperson advised ReadWrite: “Following cautious consideration, we will affirm we’ve knowledgeable gamers in Tennessee of a choice to section out Promotional Play (sweepstakes promotions) within the state throughout our manufacturers.
“Nonetheless, our valued gamers in Tennessee will nonetheless have the ability to get pleasure from all their favourite free-to-play video games utilizing Gold Cash. We’re one hundred pc centered on guaranteeing gamers are absolutely knowledgeable in regards to the adjustments and that this transition is as clean as attainable.
“However we perceive that is an adjustment after a number of years of having fun with our industry-leading manufacturers and a few gamers could also be disenchanted. This resolution wasn’t taken calmly and was made primarily based on a variety of things.”
Based on data shared with gamers, individuals in Tennessee won’t be able to gather Sweeps Cash in any means beginning November 24, 2025. This consists of login rewards, competitions, promotional bonuses that include Gold Coin purchases, and postal requests.
Gamers can hold utilizing any Sweeps Cash they nonetheless have till December 23, 2025. After that date, Sweeps Coin gameplay and new postal requests will cease. Gamers can proceed submitting redemption requests till January 20, 2026, when the window closes for good.
Tennessee cracks down on sweepstakes as VGW exits market
VGW’s resolution comes at a time when Tennessee’s Sports activities Wagering Council is ramping up efforts in opposition to platforms it views as unlawful sports activities gaming operators. On October 23, the council introduced that three extra teams had stopped providing sports activities betting within the state. These had been BetWhale.ag, Kickr, and ReBet. BetWhale, an offshore sportsbook, closed after receiving a stop and desist discover together with a superb of $50,000. Kickr and ReBet, which each function social and sweepstakes fashion sports activities gaming platforms, additionally suspended their companies.
“We encourage all Tennessee sports activities betting clients to recollect you will need to use authorized, licensed sportsbooks to guard your personal private and monetary data,” SWC govt director Mary Beth Thomas mentioned in a release. She cautioned that simply because an app or web site is offered in Tennessee doesn’t imply it’s approved to function. She inspired individuals to verify the state’s official checklist of licensed operators. The SWC additionally identified that on-line sportsbooks within the state took in $5.6 billion in wagers over the last fiscal 12 months.
Sweepstakes operators go away the state
The state’s enforcement push has already led a number of sweepstakes-style operators to exit altogether. This week, Thrillzz, KicKr, and ReBet all pulled out after being recognized as unlawful sports activities gaming platforms. Earlier within the 12 months, Legendz and Sportzino withdrew their sports activities betting merchandise, though Legendz nonetheless gives on line casino fashion video games to gamers in Tennessee.
Blazesoft's Sportzino exits Tennessee after cease-and-desist order https://t.co/pF3mTWW3eg
— Tennessee Sports activities Wagering Council (@tnswac) September 22, 2025
Although Tennessee has not handed a selected ban on sweepstakes playing, regulators are more and more making use of present legal guidelines to sweepstakes primarily based sports activities betting fashions, and it seems that it is likely to be issuing cease-and-desist orders both means.
With the strain rising, some operators are selecting to depart on their very own fairly than threat fines or authorized hassle. VGW has already ended Chumba and Luckyland On line casino play for customers in New Jersey, and it has additionally stopped providing sweepstakes play in New York.
Featured picture: VGW
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