Global Poker Announces Phased Exit from Nevada by April 2025

Global Poker, one of the leading sweepstakes-based poker operators in the United States, has officially announced it will cease operations in Nevada by April 15, 2025. This move comes as the latest in a series of state-level withdrawals prompted by evolving regulatory landscapes and growing scrutiny on sweepstakes gaming.

The company informed players via email about its phased withdrawal plan that will begin early next year. Players will lose access to certain functions over time, starting January 15, 2025, before the platform shuts down completely in April.

“We understand that this news may be disappointing and want to assure you this decision was not made lightly, but made as part of our continual evaluation of our operations in the interests of all our stakeholders,” the operator wrote in its official communication to Nevada-based customers.

Timeline of the Phased Shutdown

Global Poker’s exit from Nevada will occur in three structured phases:

• January 15, 2025: Nevada players will no longer be able to purchase new Gold Coin packages, which traditionally come with bonus Sweeps Coins. However, they can continue using their existing balances of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins to play games.
• February 15, 2025: All gameplay for Nevada s will be disabled, marking the end of wagering activities. Players will still be able to cash out any remaining Sweeps Coin balances, which can be redeemed for prizes, including cash.
• April 15, 2025: Nevada players will lose access to their s entirely, and redemption requests for Sweeps Coins will no longer be accepted. After this date, Global Poker’s services in the state will cease permanently.

Nevada will a growing list of states where Global Poker no longer operates, including Connecticut, Michigan, Idaho, Montana, and Washington. Canada’s Ontario province is also listed among excluded territories.

Global Poker’s departure from Nevada adds to the ongoing challenges faced by its parent company, Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW). VGW, based in Australia, has dealt with mounting regulatory scrutiny in multiple U.S. states as authorities take a closer look at sweepstakes platforms.

Earlier this year, Global Poker exited both Connecticut and Michigan after receiving cease-and-desist notices from state regulators. These agencies claimed the operator violated state gambling laws by functioning without proper licensing. Similar actions were taken in Delaware, where VGW’s online sweepstakes offerings were barred by the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement.

VGW’s platforms, including sister brands Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots, typically follow suit when one of their sweepstakes models is withdrawn. While Global Poker has confirmed its Nevada exit, VGW has not officially commented on whether its other brands will also discontinue operations in the state.

Limited Online Poker Options Remain in Nevada

Global Poker’s departure significantly impacts the already narrow landscape of online poker options for players in Nevada. While the state hosts one regulated platform, WSOP NV, which shares its player pool with WSOP NJ and WSOP MI, sweepstakes-based alternatives have provided added variety for those seeking poker gameplay that mimics real-money experiences.

With Global Poker leaving the market, Nevada players will have fewer alternatives, limited largely to subscription-based platforms like ClubGG and ClubWPT. ClubWPT Gold, an enhanced version of its current offering, is scheduled to debut in early 2025, but whether it will remain in Nevada remains uncertain.

Other operators, such as Clubs Poker, have opted to steer clear of Nevada entirely. Clubs Poker launched earlier this year but excluded Nevada players from its sweepstakes-based platform.

Legal Pressure and Growing Scrutiny

VGW is also navigating several legal hurdles nationwide. The company has been the subject of multiple class-action lawsuits filed in states like Georgia, where plaintiffs claim its platforms operate as unlicensed gambling. While one such lawsuit in Georgia’s Northern District Court was recently dismissed, VGW faces ongoing litigation in other jurisdictions, including a separate case still pending in Georgia’s Southern District Court.

The court decision in the Northern District noted insufficient grounds to establish jurisdiction over VGW, as the websites were deemed “ive” and not subject to Georgia’s legal reach. However, the ruling does not address broader concerns over the legal classification of sweepstakes gaming platforms.

Despite these challenges, VGW remains a dominant player in the global sweepstakes market. According to data from Eilers & Krejcik, the company currently holds roughly 50% of the market share, though this marks a decline from its peak of 90% in 2020. VGW generated over $4 billion in revenue in its last fiscal year, an increase from $3.1 billion the year before.

Future for Nevada Players

Starting January 15, 2025, Nevada Global Poker players will no longer be able to purchase Gold Coin packages, marking the beginning of the end for the platform in the state. While gameplay and redemption capabilities will phase out over the subsequent months, affected s are encouraged to redeem any remaining Sweeps Coins before the April deadline.

Global Poker’s exit signals the continued pressures on the sweepstakes industry amidst shifting regulatory frameworks and rising legal challenges. For Nevada poker enthusiasts, the departure underscores the state’s limited alternatives outside of WSOP NV and subscription-based models.

Source:

”VGW shutting down Global Poker operations in Nevada”, sbcamericas.com, December 16, 2024