Maryland Sends Second Cease-and-Desist to Two VGW Sweeps Sites

Maryland’s gaming regulator is doubling down on its efforts, this time, issuing another set of cease-and-desist letters to LuckyLand Slots and Chumba Casino. 

It’s the second letter from the state after both VGW-owned sweepstakes casino platforms failed to comply with the previous demands. The first letters were sent by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency last March 17th. Maryland Lottery claimed that these VGW operated these platforms illegally, without obtaining a state license.

Initially, the sites were asked to respond by March 27th, but failed to do so. Just like the previous letters, the respondents are asked to respond within 10 days, and failure to do so will “jeopardize their qualifications for any future Commission-issued registration, licensing, and certifications”.

Maryland Hits VGW for “Illegally Operating Sweepstakes Casino Platforms”

Maryland Lottery’s first letter was sent in March 2025.

In this letter, MLGCA argued that there are only two forms of online gaming allowed in the state: fantasy contests and sports betting. It added that iGaming or online casino-style games aren’t allowed. In short, the state’s regulator claimed that VGW operates “online gaming activities without legal authority”.

MLGCA then required LuckyLand Slots, Chumba Casino, and VGW to respond by March 27th, 2025, and was asked to comment on two things:

• A breakdown of its game offerings
• An opinion or legal analysis of why VGW believes its dual-currency model is allowed under the state’s laws

VGW and its casinos, LuckyLand Slots and Chumba, failed to reply.

New Letters, Fresh Warnings for VGW’s LuckyLand and Chumba

With no response from the VGW, the state’s regulator decided to send its second cease-and-desist letter. This time, the regulator was more specific in its demands: it’s asking the recipients to acknowledge within 10 days and share what types of games they will stop offering to local players. More importantly, the Maryland Lottery is now asking for an effective shutdown date.

Now, Maryland Lottery has a strongly-worded warning for VGW: “Failure to comply with this Notice may jeopardize the qualifications of (Lucky Land Slots and Chumba Casino) for any future Commission-issued license, registration, or certification”.

VGW and its brands, LuckyLand Slots and Chumba Casino, haven’t issued an official statement as of press time.

REFERENCES

• Maryland Lottery