The World Poker Tour (WPT) is making a bold leap into the U.S. and Canadian sweepstakes poker market with the upcoming launch of its new platform, ClubWPT Gold. This move signals WPT’s strategic vision to tap into the ever-growing online poker market through a legally compliant model in regions where traditional online gambling faces regulatory hurdles.
By using a sweepstakes model, ClubWPT Gold sidesteps the complexities of state-by-state gambling laws. Players will be able to engage in poker games for real money prizes, not through direct wagering, but via Sweeps Coins, which are earned through promotional offers. This model has already seen success with platforms like Global Poker, and now WPT is poised to carve its niche in this competitive space.
With pre-registration open and a full launch anticipated in Q1 of 2025, ClubWPT Gold is generating excitement, especially with its impressive $5,000,000 freeroll event tied to the WPT Wynn Championship in Las Vegas. Such initiatives reflect WPT’s strategy to merge the online and offline poker experiences, while offering players more flexibility. As the platform rolls out, it will be interesting to see how it navigates the challenges of state-by-state legality and potential regulatory scrutiny, especially with growing concerns over transparency in the sweepstakes model.