VGW Is Still Operating in Arizona, Almost Two Years After a Shutdown Order
Nearly two years after Arizona regulators ordered VGW Group to stop operating in the state, its sweepstakes-style platforms are still running there — and no civil or criminal charges have been filed against the company, according to reporting from the Arizona Republic covered by Covers.com.
What the order covered
The Arizona Department of Gaming challenged three VGW-linked sites — Chumba Casino, Global Poker, and Luckyland Slots — arguing their sweepstakes model amounted to unlicensed gambling under state law despite offering a free-play option alongside paid entries. Regulators ordered VGW to shut down its Arizona operations in November 2024. VGW disputed the characterization, arguing its platforms aren't gambling because players can participate without paying. The department rejected that argument in December 2024 and reiterated the shutdown order.
Almost two years, no enforcement action
Despite that order, VGW's sites have continued operating in Arizona. A Department of Gaming spokesperson, Jessica Roza, said the agency still considers the activity illegal and is assessing possible enforcement options, according to the report. The state Attorney General's Office reportedly said VGW's headquarters being based overseas creates practical difficulties for Arizona prosecutors pursuing the case. A VGW spokesperson, Michael Bennet, said the company remains confident it has complied with applicable law and supports ongoing discussions with states about regulating its model, but did not directly address why its Arizona operations have continued.
Why this matters beyond Arizona
The standoff illustrates a broader enforcement gap that has shadowed the sweepstakes-casino sector nationally: several states have issued cease-and-desist orders or opened investigations into dual-currency sweepstakes operators, but turning those orders into actual shutdowns has often proven slow, especially against operators headquartered outside the United States. For players, an unresolved legal order doesn't mean a platform's legal status is settled — it means the question is still being litigated or negotiated behind the scenes, with no guaranteed timeline for resolution either way. Readers weighing how the sweepstakes model works in the first place can see our explainer on how sweepstakes casinos' dual-currency model works.