Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), one of the giants in the sweepstakes industry and the parent company of Chumba Casino and Global Poker, is officially pulling out of Canada this fall. Starting October 23, Canadian players will lose access to both platforms. LuckyLand Slots, the third sweepstakes casino operated by VGW, was already unavailable in Canada.
While there’s no regulatory pressure in Canada influencing this decision, the move allows VGW to focus on the U.S. market, which generates much more revenue for the company.
VGW recorded $6.13 billion in total global revenue and $491.6 million in profits at the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
Profits in its Canadian market were not publicly disclosed, but industry data shows that 98% of worldwide sweepstakes gaming revenue comes from the United States. Therefore, a significant portion of VGW’s profits came from the U.S., with Chumba Casino as its most successful platform.
By leaving the Canadian market, VGW can fully focus its attention on the United States, especially during a time when sweepstakes casinos are facing increased legal scrutiny within the country.
U.S. regulatory pressure on sweepstakes casinos has intensified. In 2025 alone, multiple states, including New Jersey, New York, Mississippi, and Louisiana, have either passed bans or issued cease-and-desist orders, directly impacting VGW brands such as Chumba Casino and Global Poker. In each case, VGW responded by shutting down its Sweeps Coin products while keeping Gold Coin social play available.
This increasing scrutiny reflects broader pressure on the sweepstakes model in the United States. While the system of dual currencies has so far allowed operators to argue they don’t fall under traditional gambling definitions, lawmakers in several states are pushing back.
For VGW, that means dedicating significant resources to legal defense, lobbying, and compliance, all of which become more manageable by cutting smaller markets like Canada.
VGW’s full shift to the U.S. market strategically comes during a time when the company is facing a nationwide class action lawsuit in California, in which the company is being accused of running illegal gambling. Given that California is its most profitable state, an exit from that market could be detrimental to VGW’s operations.
If the lawsuit succeeds, or if VGW settles, the consequences could be significant. Not only could VGW’s platforms be forced to cease operations in California, affecting their best performing market, but the ripple effect might extend nationwide in states where the lawsuit also applies. That would mean 12 other states, plus Washington D.C.
VGW is currently dealing with multiple lawsuits, totaling eight now. Apart from California, there are two other class-action lawsuits in Florida and Massachusetts. Meanwhile in Montana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee, spouses of players have filed against the company under loss recovery statutes.
The legal fight against VGW is nothing new. There have been other past suits, including a suit against VGW in Georgia back in 2024. However, the case was dismissed because there weren’t strong enough local ties (such as with marketing partnerships and payment vendors). The court argued that since VGW is based in Australia, the act of players signing up and playing at the site wasn’t enough.
