ClubWPT Gold ceases operations in Nevada: what players need to know

The popular online poker room ClubWPT Gold has announced the end of its operations in Nevada. Find out the reasons for its departure and the timeline for the service shutdown.

On Thursday, June 13, the online poker community in Nevada received some unpleasant news: the popular poker room ClubWPT Gold announced it would be ceasing operations in the state. The operator, which uses a sweepstakes model to legally operate in most US states, notified Nevada players by email about the upcoming end of service. ClubWPT Gold Leaves Nevada: Details and Timeline In an official letter, ClubWPT Gold stated that it was forced to shut down operations in Nevada due to changes in state regulations. From now on, players from Nevada can no longer make “purchases” (deposits), but they are allowed to participate in poker games until midnight on September 28. After this date, access to the tables will be closed. All users are strongly advised to withdraw (“redeem”) any remaining funds from their accounts by October 2. ClubWPT Gold operated under a sweepstakes model, which allows it to bypass gambling restrictions in most states. In this scheme, players do not buy poker chips directly, but instead purchase hand analysis materials and receive play chips as a bonus. When cashing out, one chip is equivalent to one dollar. Impact on the Nevada Poker Community In recent years, ClubWPT Gold has become a significant player in Nevada’s online poker market, competing with the only licensed operator — WSOP Online. Thousands of players from the state are registered on the site, including both high-level professionals and amateurs. ClubWPT Gold’s presence was especially notable thanks to large-scale promotions and tournaments. For example, at the 2024 WPT World Championship, the ClubWPT Gold Invitational Freeroll was held with a $5,000,000 prize pool. Additionally, during WSOP 2025, the site awarded special “golden tickets,” whose holders could receive a $1,000,000 bonus for winning a bracelet event. Two golden ticket winners — Jesse Yaginuma and Michael Lavin — actually won WSOP bracelets. However, the promotion ended in scandal: Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll were banned for life from participating in the WSOP after it was discovered they were intentionally passing chips to each other (chip dumping) during the heads-up of the Millionaire Maker final table. After this, wearing ClubWPT Gold branding was banned at the WSOP 2026. Main Tournaments and Ambassadors of ClubWPT Gold ClubWPT Gold is known for its large guaranteed tournaments. Daily events are held regularly, featuring some of the highest guarantees among American online poker rooms. The Gold Million stands out — an almost two-week tournament with a $218 buy-in, a $1,000,000 guarantee, and a starting stack of 1,000,000 chips. For December 2026, as part of the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, a $400 Super Gold Million tournament with a $3,000,000 guarantee has been announced. It is still unclear how the exit from Nevada will affect the size of the guarantees and the overall tournament structure, as well as the hosting of major live events at Wynn. ClubWPT Gold partners with well-known ambassadors: among them are Phil Ivey, Doug Polk, and Ethan "Rampage" Yau. Their involvement has attracted both professionals and a wide audience of recreational players to the platform. How the ClubWPT Gold Sweepstakes Model Works Unlike traditional poker rooms, ClubWPT Gold does not sell play chips directly. Instead, players purchase hand analysis packages and receive chips as a bonus. This allows the site to bypass legal restrictions in most US states. In Nevada, however, the regulator took measures that forced the company to cease operations in the state. Chips received through the sweepstakes can be used to participate in tournaments and cash games. When cashing out, one chip equals one dollar. This approach allowed ClubWPT Gold to operate in 42 states (now 41), where traditional online gambling is banned or strictly limited. What Should Nevada Players Do After ClubWPT Gold Leaves? The closure of ClubWPT Gold is a serious blow to the state’s online poker community. For many players, it was the main or only room with large guarantees and interesting promotions. Now, they are left with only one legal online operator — WSOP Online. An alternative could be traveling to a neighboring state (except Arizona), where ClubWPT Gold continues to operate. All Nevada players are strongly advised to withdraw any remaining funds from their accounts by October 2 to avoid losing access to their chips and winnings. ClubWPT Gold Tournament Results and Prizes ClubWPT Gold Invitational Freeroll at WPT World Championship 2024 — $5,000,000 prize pool Gold Million — regular tournament with a $218 buy-in, $1,000,000 guarantee, and 1,000,000 starting chips Super Gold Million — December 2026, WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, $400 buy-in, $3,000,000 guarantee Promotion: $1,000,000 bonus for the winner of a WSOP bracelet event among golden ticket holders Golden ticket winners who won bracelets: Jesse Yaginuma, Michael Lavin Lifetime WSOP disqualification: Jesse Yaginuma, James Carroll (chip dumping at the Millionaire Maker final table) What Does This Mean for PPPoker Club Players? For PPPoker club members, this news is a reason to consider the stability and legal risks even of large and well-known platforms. Even legal schemes, such as the sweepstakes model, do not guarantee long-term operation under changing regulations. Players should closely monitor legal changes in their regions and be prepared for sudden shifts. Furthermore, the experience of ClubWPT Gold shows how important transparency and fair play are. Chip dumping scandals lead not only to individual player disqualifications but also to reputational damage for the entire brand. PPPoker clubs pay special attention to game integrity and rule enforcement — this is the foundation of trust and long-term community success. Finally, the exit of a major player from the market is an opportunity for PPPoker clubs to attract new members by offering alternative tournaments, promotions, and a stable gaming environment. It’s important to use this chance to develop your own clubs, expand your audience, and improve service quality for all players.