Chanced Shutters in Louisiana Following Cease-And-Desist

Amid the 42 cease-and-desist letters sent to various outlets in Louisiana, one of the recipients, Chanced, has announced it's leaving the state. 

On June 30, in its terms and conditions update, it mentioned that it will leave the state. 

Its sister site, Punt, made the same changes. 

Currently, Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, Kentucky, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, New York, and Washington, D.C. are on the exclusion list. 

Update on Outlets Hit With Cease-And-Desist

While casinos like Chanced are bailing and adding the state to its exclusion list, not all casinos are following suit just yet.

That said, just because Louisiana isn't on the exclusion list doesn't mean they haven't closed down shop. 

WOW Vegas has announced that they're leaving the state and haven't yet updated their exclusions list. 

Louisiana Attorney General Speaks Out

As mentioned, 42 cease-and-desist letters were sent out. 

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has filed a legal opinion, following up on a letter from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which states that if online sweepstakes casinos continue to operate illegally, legal action could be forthcoming. 

“Online ‘sweepstakes casinos’ allege that they are not conducting internet gaming or gambling; yet, they offer games such as poker, slot machines, blackjack, roulette, bingo, raffles, and other casino-style games using a dual currency system involving, what at least one company calls, ‘Gold Coins’ and ‘Sweep Coins,’” Murrill wrote. “While the operators claim these games are promotional in nature, users may purchase ‘Gold Coins’ and receive ‘Sweep Coins’ ‘as a bonus,’ typically in the same dollar amount as the purchase, which can then be used to play games and be redeemed for cash or valuable prizes.

“These operations are promoted year-round, are not in promotion of some legitimate business operation, feature jackpots and wagering elements, pay tables, and profit from user participation by selling tokens or credits.”

Advocacy Groups Speak Out; AG Disagrees With Them

Sweepstakes casinos have two main advocacy groups, the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance and the Social and Promotional Games Association. They've done what they can to advocate for the platforms, but it's all for not. They compared them to things such as Marriott Rewards and Hilton Honors. 

“[Sweeps] platforms use the same promotional frameworks relied upon by companies like Microsoft and Marriott, and are already equipped with age-gating, geolocation, and robust fraud prevention,” said an SPGA spokesperson in a press release after New Jersey passed A 5447 to ban them. 

The Louisiana AG disagrees, though. 

“Legitimate sweepstakes and rewards programs — like those run by e.g. McDonald’s or Starbucks — operate with clear rules, offer entries without purchase, and offer non-monetary or time-limited promotions designed to market a good or service,” she wrote. “Illegal ‘sweepstakes casinos,’ on the other hand, are not offered in furtherance of a legitimate business of goods, operate persistently, target vulnerable populations, require purchase to engage, and allow conversion of winnings into cash.”