ClubGG has become the most recent victim of Michigan’s fight against sweepstakes poker operators. Just days ago, the operator informed its players in the Wolverine State it would be shutting their accounts down.
An email received by all Michigan-based ClubGG players read: We regret to inform you that due to recent changes in state law in your jurisdiction, we are no longer able to offer subscription game (Membership Zone) services to residents of your state. Unfortunately, this means that we must cancel your membership.”
Operated by GGPoker, ClubGG originally started as a free-to-play poker app that allowed players to play games in private clubs. From there, it evolved into a sweepstakes poker platform, where players could play games and win coins they could convert into real money prizes.
With the state now going after sweepstakes poker operators and looking to shut down any such operations, GGPoker decided to leave the market, while allowing former Michigan online poker players who now live in other states to retain their accounts if they can prove their identity and address via the KYC procedure.
State of Michigan Cracks Down on Sweepstakes Poker
While sweepstakes casinos and poker sites are thriving across the USA, the Michigan Attorney General and the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) have taken an unfriendly stance towards them some time ago, deeming them to be providing illegal gambling services.
Back in September last year, the AG issued a cease and desist letter to Golden Hearts Games (GHG), one of the biggest operators of sweepstakes games in the state. The company complied and left the market in an attempt to avoid a protracted court case.
Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), the company behind Global Poker, pre-emptively left the market shortly after, before Stake.us also received a cease and desist letter from the AG in November.
Further targeting of sweepstakes operators by MGCB and the CG continued in early 2024, as operators were forced to leave the state one by one, or did so on their own accord. ClubGG now joins the other operators in what is quickly becoming a sweepstakes-free gaming market in Michigan.
In the words of MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams: “We are committed to upholding state law to ensure a fair and honest gaming environment for all Michigan citizens, and we will keep issuing cease-and-desist letters and taking appropriate legal actions to halt illegal gaming in the state of Michigan.”
AGA Lobbying Against Sweepstakes
While Michigan is one of the few states that have taken any steps against the sweepstakes poker and casino operators, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has been actively lobbying against the companies operating such sites.
Just last August, the AGA issued a policy statement that asked the regulators in various states to look deeper into the sweepstakes operators and determine whether or not they are in compliance with the state laws.
According to the AGA: “Functionally, sweepstakes casinos look and play like an online casino while using a dual-currency system to avoid licensing and regulation.”
A number of sweepstakes gaming operators have banded together in the Social & Promotional Games Association (SPGA), looking to counter the lobbying and preserve their rights to operate in various markets.
Many Options Available to Michiganders
While the most recent departures of a number of sweepstakes poker and sweepstakes casino sites have somewhat diminished the options players in Michigan have to enjoy their favorite games, there are still plenty of licensed real money operators to choose from.
Poker players can head over to PokerStars MI, WSOP MI, BetMGM Poker MI, and most recently DraftKings (Electric Poker), to enjoy real money poker games from the comfort of their homes.
On the other hand, the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Golden Nugget, PokerStars, and other operators all offer their online casino products in the state as well, which makes for a good selection of premium and fully licensed gaming operators to play with.
