VGW ends Tennessee sweepstakes play as state intensifies scrutiny of operators

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VGW is pulling its sweepstakes-style promotional play from Tennessee, making it the newest 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 part out Promotional Play (sweepstakes promotions) within the state throughout our manufacturers.

“Nonetheless, our valued gamers in Tennessee will nonetheless have the ability to take pleasure in all their favourite free-to-play video games utilizing Gold Cash. We’re one hundred pc targeted on making certain gamers are totally 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 frivolously and was made based mostly on a spread of things.”

In line with info shared with gamers, individuals in Tennessee will be unable 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 have been BetWhale.ag, Kickr, and ReBet. BetWhale, an offshore sportsbook, closed after receiving a stop and desist discover together with a effective of $50,000. Kickr and ReBet, which each function social and sweepstakes type sports activities gaming platforms, additionally suspended their providers.

“We encourage all Tennessee sports activities betting prospects to recollect you will need to use authorized, licensed sportsbooks to guard your personal private and monetary info,” SWC government director Mary Beth Thomas stated in a release. She cautioned that simply because an app or web site is on the market in Tennessee doesn’t imply it’s licensed to function. She inspired individuals to examine the state’s official listing 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 yr.

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 yr, Legendz and Sportzino withdrew their sports activities betting merchandise, though Legendz nonetheless gives on line casino type 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

Despite the fact that Tennessee has not handed a particular ban on sweepstakes playing, regulators are more and more making use of present legal guidelines to sweepstakes based mostly sports activities betting fashions, and it seems that it is likely to be issuing cease-and-desist orders both means.

With the stress rising, some operators are selecting to depart on their very own slightly than danger fines or authorized bother. 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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