Starting tomorrow, February 19th, players at Chumba, Luckyland Slots, and Global Poker must now be 21 or older to play. The parent company of all three brands, VGW, updated their terms of service a few days ago. Players under the age limit will no longer have access to the site or be allowed to withdraw their prizes. However, once a player does hit 21, they can reclaim their account. This is another shift in the ever-evolving sweepstakes casino scene. This change from VGS, as the largest sweepstakes operator in the world, will like set a new standard in the industry. With other larger operators like High 5 Casino already making this change several months ago, this looks like the new norm in the industry.
This was likely a preventive measure, as the sweepstakes casino industry has come under more scrutiny lately. Operating for years within the grey area of the law, multiple states have targeted them. States like Mississippi, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland all have some sort of legislation under review, ranging from restrictions to outright bans. Delaware, Michigan, Idaho, and Washington have sent cease-and-desist letters to VGW to halt regional operations. Coming under fire from multiple angles, this move to 21+ is likely a way for the sweepstakes giant to gain some goodwill and align more with established gambling in the USA.
The decision to move the age to 21+ is a sign of things to come. Why else would VGS be willing to cut off a portion of its user base?
No, the battle for sweepstakes casinos is just heating up. With VGS making $4 billion in 2023, it’s grown into a force in the entertainment industry. They can’t hide as a minor player working the grey area of the law anymore. Sweepstakes casinos will likely be a hot-button topic in every state in the coming years. What lawmakers will do is unclear at the moment, though. We don’t have a strong precedent to compare this transition to. With some states aiming for a complete ban, others looking towards regulation, and some simply leaving it alone. Sweepstakes casinos as they are today might be at their peak, or this could just be the start of a more sustainable future. Every way things trend, this change will only be one of many in the coming months and years.
Even with the news about VGW raising their age requirements, there are still some sweepstake casinos that allow players under 21 to play. We've found some of our top sites that still allow players 18+ to play.