ClubWPT Gold Withdraws from Nevada Citing State Regulatory Action
ClubWPT Gold is exiting Nevada due to state regulatory action, halting purchases while permitting play until Sept. 28 and redemptions by Oct. 2. The sweepstakes site had grown into a major competitor to WSOP Online with large guarantees and thousands of players. Its departure shrinks options in a state with limited licensed online poker.
SCCG Take — This exit underscores the vulnerability of sweepstakes models to targeted state enforcement. Operators using similar structures should reassess regulatory exposure before similar actions spread.
ClubWPT Gold is exiting the Nevada market after state regulatory action prompted changes to its operations. The sweepstakes-based online poker site, which has operated in 42 states until now, notified players it will wind down services in the Silver State. Purchases are no longer permitted, though players may enter games until midnight on Sept. 28 and must redeem balances by Oct. 2.
The notification to players stated: “As part of changes to our operations in response to state regulatory action, ClubWPT Gold will be winding down services in Nevada.”
ClubWPT Gold’s Established Role in Nevada Online Poker
According to reporting by PokerNews, the platform has become a major presence in Nevada, competing with the state’s only licensed traditional poker site, WSOP Online. It has attracted thousands of players, including top professionals, and features ambassadors Phil Ivey, Doug Polk, and Ethan “Rampage” Yau.
ClubWPT Gold offers some of the largest daily guarantees in U.S. online poker, along with the nearly bi-weekly $218 buy-in Gold Million, a $1 million guaranteed tournament. It previously hosted a $5 million ClubWPT Gold Invitational Freeroll at the 2024 WPT World Championship and provided a $1 million bonus to gold ticket winners at the 2025 WSOP. Jesse Yaginuma and Michael Lavin won bracelets under the promotion, but it resulted in lifetime WSOP bans for Yaginuma and James Carroll after a chip-dumping incident at the Millionaire Maker final table. Players were barred from wearing ClubWPT Gold patches at the 2026 WSOP.
Impact on Nevada Players and Remaining Options
The withdrawal is a devastating blow to the Nevada online poker industry and the broader poker community. Under the sweepstakes model, players purchase poker hand analysis and receive free chips as part of the package, with one chip worth one dollar on redemption.
Nevada players retain access to WSOP Online as a legal alternative. They may also travel to nearby states where ClubWPT Gold remains available, though Arizona is excluded. The effect on the site’s daily prize pool guarantees and the $400 Super Gold Million event—a $3 million guaranteed tournament scheduled for the 2026 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas in December—remains unclear.
Reporting: PokerNews
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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