VGW reportedly still operating in Arizona two years after cease-and-desist order from state regulators

Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), the operator behind Chumba Casino, Global Poker and LuckyLand Slots, is reportedly still active in Arizona almost two years after state regulators told it to stop. The finding comes from an investigation by the Arizona Republic, which has renewed questions about how the state enforces its gambling laws against sweepstakes-style operators.

The Arizona Department of Gaming issued a cease-and-desist order against the Australian company in November 2024. Regulators alleged that VGW's platforms offered illegal gambling and warned that the company could face civil or criminal charges. According to the report, no such action has followed.

The Department's position is that VGW's model breaks state law because users can buy virtual currency, play games and redeem winnings for cash or other prizes. It argued that offering free-to-play options does not change the nature of the activity. VGW disputes this reading and maintains that sweepstakes platforms fall outside state gambling laws.

Department of Gaming spokesperson Jessica Roza reportedly said the agency still regards VGW's activities as illegal and is evaluating possible enforcement steps. The report notes that the company's overseas base makes bringing a case particularly difficult.

Scrutiny has also focused on VGW's political spending. The company and businesses linked to it reportedly spent about $350,000 on lobbying Democratic and Republican officials. The report stresses that these payments do not show that political contributions shaped the regulatory response, but the lack of visible action against a large sweepstakes operator has attracted attention.

VGW spokesperson Michael Bennet has previously said the company is confident it complies with relevant laws and regulations, and that it is willing to talk with states about possible regulatory frameworks for its dual-currency offering. VGW has not commented on its continued presence in Arizona despite the regulator's warnings.

The case comes amid growing opposition to dual-currency sweepstakes casinos across the United States. Several states have banned them and others are pursuing legal action against the sector. As one of the country's largest operators, VGW remains a prominent target for regulators and prosecutors.