The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) has sent follow-up cease-and-desist notices to VGW platforms Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots, accusing them of offering illegal online casino and sweepstakes gaming.
In letters sent to both sites on Nov. 18, the regulator stated that although the only forms of legal online gambling in the state are online sports betting and fantasy contests, both brands are offering online casino and sweepstakes play, with Chumba also letting users play online poker.
“These offerings contain the elements of gaming: consideration, chance and prize; in other words, it is gaming,” wrote the MLGCC. The agency gave the pair 10 days from the date of the letter to confirm that it will cease offering those products, and when and how it wil do so.
Knock louder next time
Maryland’s gaming regulator previously sent similar notices to the two VGW brands on March 17, also giving them 10 days to respond. The commission warned that failure to comply may jeopardize any chance of Chumba and Luckyland qualifying for licenses in the state in the future.
SBC Americas reached out to VGW for comment on the second round of Maryland letters.
VGW is one of numerous social gaming operators that have been targeted by Maryland through C&Ds this year. The Australian company, a founding member of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), testified at hearings earlier this year as Maryland considered passing legislation to ban sweepstakes gaming. That bill stalled when the session ended, but the effort could return in 2026.
VGW abandons sweeps in more states
It has either pulled out entirely or switched from dual-currency Sweeps Coins play to free Gold Coins play only in several other states in which it has come under fire in 2025. It has shut down sweeps play in more than a dozen states, including states like Connecticut, Montana, New Jersey, and New York that passed sweepstakes bans, and several others that have pursued enforcement action via C&Ds.
Last week, a VGW rep told SBC Americas that it is ending sweeps coins play in West Virginia to move to Gold Coins play only, and the rep said this week that it is also abandoning sweeps play in Tennessee starting this month.
“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,” SBC Americas was told. “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.”
Maryland also targets prediction markets
Sweepstakes operators aren’t the only companies in the MLGCC’s crosshairs. It has also sent cease-and-desists to prediction market participants such as Kalshi, Crypto.com and Robinhood and the agency sent a letter to all gaming licensees on Nov. 19 to stress that sports event contracts constitute an illegal activity in Maryland.
It warned gaming operators that partaking in such activity in any jurisdiction could have negative repercussions on their Maryland licenses.
