Online gambling platform VGW announces discontinuation of Sweep Coin services in Mississippi and New Jersey.
Australian-Based Sweepstakes Casino Operator Suspends Sweep Coins in New Jersey and Mississippi
In response to increasing regulatory pressure and impending legal restrictions, the Australian-based sweepstakes casino and social games operator, VGW, has announced the suspension of its Sweep Coins system in New Jersey and Mississippi.
The phase-out of Sweep Coins began in mid-2025, with specific deadlines set for the discontinuation and redemption of the currency in both states. In New Jersey, the company stopped offering Sweep Coins as of Tuesday, July 29, and players will not be able to use them after August 29, 2025. The deadline for redeeming Sweep Coins is set at September 24, 2025.
In Mississippi, players will not be able to win or collect Sweep Coins starting on July 31, 2025, and from August 14, 2025, they will not be able to use the currency to play accounts. All Sweep Coins must be redeemed by September 4, 2025.
VGW operates a number of brands that offer Sweep Coins as an alternative method to cash out rewards, including Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots, and Global Poker. The company maintains that the sweepstakes social casino model is established and based on legal precedent, and therefore not subject to abrupt takedowns.
The suspension of Sweep Coins in New Jersey and Mississippi is being enacted in light of the tightening legal framework against sweepstakes casinos. In New Jersey, the potential signing of A5447 by the governor may contribute to the regulatory climate, but the discontinuation of Sweep Coins has already occurred. In Mississippi, a cease-and-desist letter was issued by the local regulator, giving the company 14 days to comply with the request.
The Social and Promotional Gaming Association (SPGFA) has opposed A5447, arguing that it would suppress innovation, kill jobs, and lessen the state's competitive edge. If the governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, fails to act on A5447, it will become a law on August 14, 2025.
As part of a wider market exit by sweepstakes casinos in these regulated states, VGW has chosen to comply with all requests issued against its operations in the United States. The discontinuation of Sweep Coins in both states is a result of business factors and pressure faced by sweepstakes operators all over the country.
The phasing out of Sweep Coins in New Jersey and Mississippi will occur in several stages, with a final cut-off period set for both states. The company took a proactive approach in response to the evolving regulatory climate and bans looming on sweepstakes casinos operating with the dual-currency (Sweep Coins and Gold Coins) model.
Sources: [1] https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/vgw-to-suspend-sweep-coins-in-new-jersey-and-mississippi/ [2] https://www.casinonewsdaily.com/2025/07/vgw-to-suspend-sweep-coins-in-new-jersey-and-mississippi/ [3] https://www.calvinayre.com/2025/07/27/business/vgw-to-suspend-sweep-coins-in-new-jersey-and-mississippi/ [4] https://www.usgamblingreports.com/2025/07/vgw-to-suspend-sweep-coins-in-new-jersey-and-mississippi/ [5] https://www.gamblingtimes.com/2025/07/vgw-to-suspend-sweep-coins-in-new-jersey-and-mississippi/
In compliance with escalating regulatory pressure and impending legal restrictions, VGW, the Australian-based operator of casinos like Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots, has decided to phase out the use of Sweep Coins in New Jersey and Mississippi, effective from July and August 2025 respectively. This move is indicative of the challenges faced by the gambling industry, as technology advances and lawmakers grapple with the complexities of online gaming.