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 just some weeks after the corporate stopped providing sweepstakes play in West Virginia.
A VGW spokesperson informed ReadWrite: “Following cautious consideration, we will verify we’ve knowledgeable gamers in Tennessee of a choice to part out Promotional Play (sweepstakes promotions) within the state throughout our manufacturers.
“Nevertheless, 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 targeted on guaranteeing gamers are absolutely knowledgeable in regards to the adjustments and that this transition is as clean as doable.
“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 choice wasn’t taken calmly and was made based mostly on a variety of things.”
Based on info shared with gamers, folks in Tennessee won’t be able to gather Sweeps Cash in any approach beginning November 24, 2025. This contains 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 choice 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 clients to recollect it is very important use authorized, licensed sportsbooks to guard your individual private and monetary info,” SWC govt director Mary Beth Thomas mentioned in a launch. She cautioned that simply because an app or web site is out there in Tennessee doesn’t imply it’s licensed to function. She inspired folks to verify the state’s official record 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 depart 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 type video games to gamers in Tennessee.
Blazesoft’s Sportzino exits Tennessee after cease-and-desist order
— 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 perhaps issuing cease-and-desist orders both approach.
With the stress rising, some operators are selecting to depart on their very own moderately than threat 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
