Delaware sports betting regulators issued a cease and desist order to sweepstakes casino operator VGW in 2023.
Greg Nolt, director of the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement, confirmed to LSR Wednesday the Delaware sports betting regulator sent a cease and desist order to sweepstake operator Virtual Gaming Worlds, or VGW, in February 2023. The Australian company is still operating in Delaware.
Australian Financial Review first reported the Delaware letter.
Delaware regulator explains action
Nolt wrote in a statement to LSR:
“The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) issued a Cease Desist Order against VGW (Virtual Gaming Worlds) Luckyland Inc. on February 23, 2023 concerning their Slot Operations/Games in Delaware. The order stated: Permitting those people who reside in Delaware to participate in these games is in violation of Delaware law. They were instructed to immediately suspend all such accounts accessed by users physically located within the State of Delaware.
“The Delaware Division of Gaming of Enforcement (DGE) has not received any complaints from Delaware residents against VGW.”
Recent sweepstakes developments
The AGA recently began asking state regulators to look into sweepstake operators.
Michigan regulators sent similar cease and desist orders to multiple sweepstakes casino operators in late 2023. Those three operators (VGW, Stake.us and PredictionStrike) all ceased operations in the Mitten State.
Beside Michigan, VGW does not offer its products in Idaho and Washington.
VGW sweepstakes casino offerings
VGW websites include Chumba Casino, Luckyland Slots and Global Poker.
Sweepstakes operators allow users to play for free or with purchased virtual currency, according to the AGA. Users can exchange the virtual currency to real money.
The AGA memo asks gaming regulators to examine whether these offerings comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Delaware online casino
Delaware launched online casino in 2013. Sports betting followed in 2018.
Last year, BetRivers took over the Delaware Lottery partnership from 888.
This year, there was a legislative move to open the market to more operators. The legislature did not pick up the bill this year.
