Global Poker Pulls Out of Nevada: What It Means for Online Poker Players

Exit Timeline: What Players Need to Know

Global Poker’s departure will roll out over three key phases:

• January 15, 2025: Players will no longer be able to buy Gold Coin packages, which also include bonus Sweeps Coins. Existing balances, however, can still be used to play games.
• February 15, 2025: All wagering will stop. Players will be able to redeem Sweeps Coins for cash prizes or other rewards, but gameplay will be off the table.
• April 15, 2025: It’s game over. Account access will be terminated, and players who haven’t cashed out risk losing their remaining balances.

In its announcement, Global Poker acknowledged the disappointment this would cause its Nevada-based community: “We understand that this news may be disappointing… but [it was] made as part of our continual evaluation of operations.”

RIP Global Poker in Nevada pic.twitter.com/okvNH3nP1e

— Jerod Smith (@jsmith84poker) December 16, 2024

Why Now? Growing Pressure on Sweepstakes Platforms

Global Poker operates in a gray area of US gaming law, where sweepstakes-based platforms use a dual-currency system to circumvent traditional gambling regulations. In Nevada — a state known for its strict gaming oversight — the line between legal and questionable can get blurry, especially for platforms like Global Poker that don’t require traditional licenses.

While Global Poker hasn’t officially explained its decision, the exit seems part of a larger trend for its parent company, Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW). VGW has been on the defensive in recent months, exiting states like Michigan and Connecticut after receiving cease-and-desist orders. Regulators in Delaware also pushed VGW to shut down, while class-action lawsuits alleging illegal gambling have popped up in states like Georgia.

Nevada’s regulators have historically shown little patience for platforms operating in murky waters. Whether this move is preemptive or the result of quiet discussions with state officials remains unclear, but the writing has been on the wall for VGW’s sweepstakes operations.

A Hit for Nevada’s Online Poker Scene

Nevada may be the poker capital of the world, but its online poker options are surprisingly limited. WSOP NV remains the state’s only regulated platform for real-money play, sharing its player pool with New Jersey and Michigan. Global Poker filled a gap, offering a popular alternative for players seeking poker gameplay without diving into the real-money scene.

With Global Poker pulling out, Nevada players are left with fewer choices. Platforms like ClubGG, ClubWPT, and the upcoming ClubWPT Gold still offer subscription-based models, but they don’t quite hit the same notes as Global Poker’s dual-currency sweepstakes system.

What’s Next for VGW and Sweepstakes Poker?

VGW, which also operates Luckyland Slots and Chumba Casino, remains the heavyweight in the sweepstakes niche, but cracks are showing. Once commanding 90% of the market, VGW now holds closer to 50%, and ongoing legal battles could shrink its footprint even further. The company generated $4 billion in revenue last fiscal year — a staggering figure — but regulatory storms continue to gather.

For Nevada players, the countdown has begun. Whether other sweepstakes-based platforms will follow Global Poker’s lead remains to be seen, but for now, this marks the end of an era for online poker enthusiasts in the Silver State.