VGW, the operator behind Chumba Casino, Global Poker and LuckyLand Slots, has agreed to pay $8 million to settle the New York Attorney General’s investigation into its sweepstakes casinos. Its LuckyLand Slots brand shut for good on September 14, 2026, closing a pre-announced three-stage wind-down.
What happened
Attorney General Letitia James announced the settlement on September 9. The $8 million covers disgorgement, penalties and costs, and VGW must not offer Sweeps Coins redeemable for cash or prizes to New York residents. In practice it already stopped: VGW pulled Sweeps Coins play from the state after a cease-and-desist letter in June 2025.
The AG’s office said its investigation found players obtained Sweeps Coins at roughly one coin per dollar spent on Gold Coin packages, which it argued makes them gambling chips rather than a free promotional currency. James called the three brands “a dangerous threat to New Yorkers and their financial and mental health.”
The LuckyLand Slots closure on September 14 is a separate event, announced earlier in the summer and run as a staged shutdown: purchases ended August 3, gameplay ended August 24, and the redemption window closed on September 14. The timing is a coincidence rather than a consequence of the settlement, but it fits the same pattern: VGW is consolidating as state pressure grows. LuckyLand Casino (the social, Gold Coins-only product), Chumba Casino and Global Poker continue to operate.
What it means for players
- LuckyLand Slots accounts are closed. If you had a balance and did not redeem before September 14, contact VGW support; there is no public grace period.
- Chumba Casino and Global Poker are unaffected outside New York. New York players have had Gold Coins-only access since 2025.
- The one-coin-per-dollar finding is the argument every other AG will now reuse. Florida is already running it.
What happens next
No further action in New York; the state’s broader December 2025 measures against operators and suppliers remain in force. Watch for the same settlement template in Florida and Tennessee.
See also
- New York Attorney General: AG James secures $8 million from leading operator of illegal online sweepstakes casinos (Sep 9, 2026)
- CDC Gaming: New York, VGW pays $8 million for illegal gambling operation (Sep 10, 2026)
- CasinoBeats: VGW announces LuckyLand Slots will shut down (Jul 28, 2026)
- Casino Reports: LuckyLand Slots leaving US, though LuckyLand Casino remains (Aug 13, 2026)
- Gambling Insider: Sweepstakes casino monthly update (Sep 2026)
General information compiled from public sources, not legal advice. Laws change often. Reporting reflects information available on October 1, 2026.