The gaming regulator in Maryland has strengthened its aim at sweepstakes operator Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), ordering the group to depart the state.
Initially reported by Forbes, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) stated to the operator on March 12 that its sweepstakes casinos Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots are operating online gaming activities in the state “without the legal authority to do so”.
“The commission has no record of VGW being issued a sports wagering license, a casino gaming license, or registration as a fantasy competition operator,” said the regulator, which also stressed that only sports wagering and fantasy competition are permitted in Maryland.
Should VGW wish to challenge the case put forward by the regulator, the MLGCA challenged the operator to provide “any legal analysis or opinion interpreting Maryland law that concludes, advises, or suggests that VGW may legally offer sports wagering, casino games or fantasy competition games in Maryland without Commission registration or licensure.”
VGW was caught in a similar situation when it departed Connecticut following a similar cease-and-desist letter sent by the state’s Department of Consumer Protection.
Furthermore, as of 15 April, customers in Nevada will also no longer have access to VGW’s Global Poker brand.
The company declined to comment on the latest news from Maryland when reached out to by SBC Americas.
It forms part of a wider push from the MLGCA’s to take aim at the sweepstake sector and minimise the presence of sweepstake operators from the state. In January, over a dozen operators were issued with notices to exit Maryland, meanwhile, a pair of companion bills, SB 860 and HB 1140, have been introduced to increase punishments for illegal online gaming and outlaw sweepstakes casinos in the state
