Poker Writer
VGW Holdings, a prominent sweepstakes gaming operator, will no longer present its services within the state of New York.
Beginning on August 2, people will no longer have access to Chumba Casinos, LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker while in NY. This move is not a surprise, as the the state legislature is considering S5035, a bill to prohibit online sweepstakes games revenues from illegal markets.
VGW will phase out its operations in NY starting in June before complete withdrawal by the August deadline.
Global Poker had become a popular alternative for poker players who may not have had the ability to play legalized online poker in their state. It also had options for versions of video poker available to users.
The crackdown in sweepstakes casinos has been happening across the US and has now made its way to the Empire State. Senator Joseph Addabbo is the main proponent of the NY bill against sweepstakes casinos:
“We have these online sweepstakes casinos that basically look a lot like casino games, but they go unregulated.”
Any violations of the bill could result in fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for operators and potentially lead to the loss of a gambling license. Many other operators have also left the state because of that threat.
A gambling license is hard to come by in NY, as many casino hopefuls have learned in the intense battle for a license to build a NYC casino that has been going on for a few years. A battle that Wynn Resorts deemed not worth it as they recently withdrew from consideration.
