Virtual Gaming Worlds Announces Massive Sweeps Change In Tennessee

Tennessee has seen many changes in the sweepstakes casino industry despite having no official laws on the books, and now Virtual Gaming Worlds, the company that owns platforms like Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, is making changes. 

As of Dec. 23, the company will cease offering Sweeps Coins play in the state. About a month before, on Nov. 24, players will be unable to purchase Sweeps Coins. 

Players in Tennessee will still be able to participate in Gold Coins play. 

“Following careful consideration, we can confirm we’ve informed players in Tennessee of a decision to phase out Promotional Play (sweepstakes promotions) in the state across our brands,” a spokesperson for VGW told Sweepsy. “However, our valued players in Tennessee will still be able to enjoy all their favorite free-to-play games using Gold Coins. We are 100 percent focused on ensuring players are fully informed about the changes and that this transition is as smooth as possible.

“But we understand this is an adjustment after several years of enjoying our industry-leading brands and some players may be disappointed. This decision wasn’t taken lightly and was made based on a range of factors.”

It's unclear whether cease-and-desist letters are being sent, but this might indicate they are. 

Exit Timeline

Here's a complete timeline of what's happening in Tennessee: 

• Nov. 24: Sweeps Coins are no longer available, but players can use their balance.
• Dec. 23: Sweeps Coins cannot be used in games, and all AMOE requests will cease.
• Jan. 20, 2026: Deadline for redemption requests. 

Other Recent Exits

In addition to this change by Virtual Gaming Worlds, several other high-profile brands, such as Stake.us, High 5 Casino, LoneStar Casino, RealPrize, and Lucky Bits Vegas, are either following VGW's model or leaving completely. These moves are happening throughout November and December. 

Sweepstakes Sportsbooks Hit Too

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council has also been at work, coming down on sweepstakes sportsbooks. Legendz, Thrillzz, Sportzino, KicKr, and ReBet all pulled out of the state, and the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council confirmed it. 

We'll see how this continues to evolve in Tennessee. There may not be a need for an official law, given these decisions by sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks that have set this precedent.