Last Updated on September 25, 2026 by Bala Kumar
If you’re a poker player in Nevada, this week brought bad news. ClubWPT Gold, the World Poker Tour’s sweepstakes-style poker site and one of the most popular online poker options in the state, is leaving Nevada.
The news came on Thursday. ClubWPT Gold announced the poker site is pulling out of the state and sent Nevada players an email explaining that the move comes “in response to state regulatory action.” The company also said it is grateful to its Nevada community, which made the announcement especially difficult to share.
Key Dates Nevada Players Need to Know
If you have a balance on ClubWPT Gold, don’t wait. Here’s the timeline:
- Right now: All purchases on the site have stopped, and postal requests are no longer accepted.
- September 28, 2026: Players in the Silver State can still enter poker games until midnight on Sept. 28.
- October 2, 2026: The company is encouraging affected customers to make redemption requests no later than this date.
My advice is simple: request your redemption early. Don’t leave your money sitting there until the last day.
Why Is This Happening?
ClubWPT Gold isn’t a licensed real-money poker room. It uses a sweepstakes-based model loophole to operate in 42 states, now 41. Its setup is a bit unusual. Players don’t technically buy casino chips. Instead, they buy poker hand analysis and get free chips as part of the package to play poker with. One chip is worth one dollar when cashing out.
That model came from a major change last year. After ClubWPT Gold acquired Upswing Poker, the platform relaunched as a hybrid sweepstakes poker and training site. Many people saw this as a way to stay open as states began cracking down on sweepstakes gaming.
But Nevada has been tightening the rules. Nevada passed anti-sweepstakes legislation that was set to take effect on October 1 of 2025, and SB 256 (2025) gave regulators expanded powers to pursue and penalise unlicensed sweepstakes operators. Nevada regulators are known for being tough. The Gaming Control Board has obtained court injunctions against every known prediction market platform operating in the state.
ClubWPT Gold Isn’t the First to Leave
This exit follows a clear pattern. Back in late 2024, Global Poker announced it would exit the Nevada market by April 2025, its third state withdrawal in a year amid a sweepstakes crackdown. Clubs Poker also left Nevada, and by December 2025 it had pulled out of Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Washington, and West Virginia.
When Global Poker left, ClubWPT Gold was one of the few options Nevada players still had. Now that option is gone too.
Why This Hurts the Poker Community
ClubWPT Gold wasn’t just another site. It made a huge splash in Nevada over the past couple of years, so leaving will have a big effect on many pros and recreational players. The World Poker Tour even hosted a $5 million ClubWPT Gold Invitational Freeroll at the 2024 WPT World Championship.
The brand also made headlines at the 2025 WSOP. Jesse Yaginuma was eligible for a $1 million promotional prize from ClubWPT Gold if he won a WSOP bracelet. His Millionaire Maker win ended in controversy over chip-dumping allegations. He kept the first-place cash, and ClubWPT Gold said it would pay his bonus, but the bracelet was not awarded and both players were banned from future events.
What Are Nevada Players’ Options Now?
There is still some good news. There is a legal option, WSOP Online, or players can travel to a nearby state (not Arizona) to play on Gold. In Nevada, online poker is permitted but limited to two licensed operators: Real Gaming and WSOP.
The downside is that player choice is now very small. A licensed site does offer something sweepstakes sites can’t, though: a state regulator standing behind it and protections for your money.
Is This a Sign of Things to Come?
ClubWPT Gold has pulled out of states before and come back. For example, it returned to New York a little over a month after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill banning sweepstakes casinos. So it’s possible the company could find a way back into Nevada in the future. But given how strict Nevada’s regulators are, I wouldn’t count on that happening soon.
For now, the message for Nevada players is clear: play out your final sessions, withdraw your balance before October 2, and look at licensed options like WSOP Online if you want to keep playing online.
FAQs
1. Why is ClubWPT Gold leaving Nevada?
ClubWPT Gold is leaving Nevada in response to state regulatory action affecting sweepstakes-style gaming operators
2. When will ClubWPT Gold stop operating in Nevada?
Nevada players can continue playing until midnight on September 28, 2026. The company has asked customers to submit redemption requests by October 2, 2026.
3. Can Nevada players withdraw their ClubWPT Gold balance?
Yes. Affected players should submit redemption requests before the October 2 deadline. ClubWPT Gold has advised Nevada customers to make their requests as early as possible.
4. Can Nevada residents still play online poker after ClubWPT Gold leaves?
Yes. Nevada has licensed online poker options, including WSOP Online. Players can also access ClubWPT Gold by traveling to an eligible nearby state, subject to that state’s rules.
5. Could ClubWPT Gold return to Nevada in the future?
A future return cannot be ruled out, but there is no announced plan or timeline for ClubWPT Gold to resume operations in Nevada.
Founder of PokerClubGames.com and a Poker Researcher with 10+ years of experience in SEO, WordPress development, and gaming content strategy. Specializes in researching online poker sites, poker apps, tournaments, bonuses, and poker strategies. Experienced in poker platform reviews, affiliate marketing, and creating SEO-focused poker content for global audiences.
For collaborations, media inquiries, or poker-related partnerships:
Contact: Info@hugecount.com
