ClubWPT Gold is pulling its sweepstakes poker games out of Nevada. The site told Nevada users by email on Thursday, September 24, that purchases were disabled immediately and that sweepstakes gameplay would be unavailable to players located in the state from 12 a.m. PT on September 28. Players have until October 2 to submit redemption requests.
The move matters for more than one state. Nevada is the home of the World Series of Poker and the WPT World Championship, and it has one of the oldest regulated online poker markets in the US. ClubWPT Gold's departure is another sign of the pressure sweepstakes poker faces across the country.
What ClubWPT Gold said
The original email said the company was "winding down" services in response to "state regulatory action." A later notice on the site softened the language to "pausing," and said the company was "optimistic that with product modifications" it could bring sweepstakes play back to Nevada in future.
The company has not said which regulatory action triggered the decision, and there's no public cease-and-desist letter from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. When PokerOrg asked for comment, ClubWPT Gold pointed back to its published statement.
According to PokerNews, the site had been available in 42 states and will now operate in 41.
Key dates for Nevada players
- September 24: Purchases and postal requests disabled
- September 28, 12 a.m. PT: Sweepstakes gameplay ends for players in Nevada
- October 2: Deadline to submit redemption requests
Card Player reported that players were also advised to cancel memberships. The timing is awkward: ClubWPT Gold's Crown Series runs through October 11, leaving Nevada players who were still alive in multi-day events in limbo.
How ClubWPT Gold's model works
ClubWPT Gold changed its model in September 2025. The site dropped free-play Gold Coins. Instead, players buy poker training and hand-analysis credits, which come with sweepstakes chips that can be redeemed at $1 each.
The idea is to separate the purchase (a training product) from the sweepstakes chips, which the company describes as a promotional bonus. Critics argue that, in practice, players are paying money for chips they can win and redeem for cash — and that looks a lot like real-money gambling.
That debate is at the heart of the sweepstakes crackdown.
A string of state exits
Nevada isn't ClubWPT Gold's first departure. Poker Industry PRO described it as the site's ninth state exit. Recent examples include:
Arizona. On July 10, 2026, the Arizona Department of Gaming sent cease-and-desist letters to five operators, including ClubWPT Gold. The department alleged under-21 play and "deceptive 'no purchase necessary' language," among other claims. ClubWPT Gold first restricted play to players 21 and over, then shut down in the state on August 8.
California. California's AB 831, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2025 and in effect since January 1, 2026, banned dual-currency sweepstakes. It passed without a single vote against, backed by the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. ClubWPT Gold stayed in the state by restricting redemption periods for California players, though at least one legal expert quoted by Card Player argued it may still violate the law.
New York. A bill signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in December 2025 forced a short-notice exit. PokerOrg reported that ClubWPT Gold returned within about a month.
Oklahoma. Oklahoma's legislature overrode Governor Kevin Stitt's veto of SB 1589, which bans sweepstakes platforms from November 1, 2026. Promoting unregulated gambling becomes a felony under the new law.
Nevada: what options are left?
For Nevada players, the choices for online poker are now narrow. WSOP Online is the state's regulated real-money option, and Global Poker and Clubs Poker already exclude Nevada.
There's also a question about ClubWPT Gold's link to the World Poker Tour's biggest event. The WPT's $400 Super Gold Million ($3 million guaranteed) is scheduled for Wynn Las Vegas in December as part of the WPT World Championship festival. PokerNews said the impact of the Nevada exit on that event was unclear. Poker.pro reported that the WPT Championship at Wynn is unaffected.
ClubWPT Gold's ambassadors include Phil Ivey, Doug Polk and Ethan "Rampage" Yau.
Wider pressure on the sweepstakes model
ClubWPT Gold isn't the only operator facing pressure. Arizona's cease-and-desist letters in July went to five operators, and California's AB 831 applies to the whole dual-currency sweepstakes industry. Oklahoma's new law will force every sweepstakes platform out of the state from November 1.
The pattern is similar in each state. Regulators and lawmakers argue that sweepstakes platforms offer real-money gambling without licences, taxes or consumer protections. Tribal gaming groups, which have exclusive gaming rights in several states, have pushed hard for enforcement. Operators respond that their products comply with sweepstakes law and that players can take part without paying.
For players, the result is a patchwork where a site that's available one month may be gone the next.
Why Nevada is significant
Nevada was one of the first US states to regulate online poker, and its gaming regulators are among the most established in the world. A sweepstakes operator stepping back there sends a signal to other states considering action.
The sweepstakes model grew because it offered a legal grey area in states without regulated online poker. As more states act — through new laws, enforcement or both — that grey area is shrinking. Operators face a choice between redesigning their products, exiting states one by one, or pursuing licensing where it's available.
What this means for players
Withdraw your balance promptly. If you're a ClubWPT Gold player in Nevada, submit any redemption request before October 2. Don't wait until the last day.
Understand what you're playing. Sweepstakes sites aren't regulated gambling operators. Protections around fund security and dispute resolution vary. Our safe poker sites guide explains what to look for.
Know your state's rules. Legal online poker in the US is limited to a handful of states. Our US poker sites page explains where you can play and what options are available elsewhere, including offshore sites such as BetOnline and Americas Cardroom.
Consider how you'll pay. If you move to another platform, check payment options, withdrawal times and fees. Our payments guide and bitcoin poker page cover the main methods.
ClubWPT Gold says it hopes to return to Nevada with product changes. Until then, the state becomes one more on the list of places where sweepstakes poker is no longer an option.