ClubWPT Gold, a sweepstakes online poker room from the World Poker Tour (WPT), has delayed the discontinuation of its Gold Coins. The change, initially scheduled for September 17, will now take effect on September 24.
No official reason has been given for the delay, but the FAQ posted by the sweepstakes operator earlier this month now lists September 24 as the end date for Gold Coins. A spokesperson on the platform’s official Discord server confirmed the postponement.
The removal of Gold Coins would mark a major shift in ClubWPT Gold’s business model. Like other sweepstakes platforms, ClubWPT Gold has relied on a dual-currency system to comply with sweepstakes law. Players purchase Gold Coins, which hold no monetary value, and with each purchase, they receive free Sweeps Coins. Those Sweeps Coins can then be used to play sweepstakes games, with winnings redeemable for real cash prizes.
Now, with Gold Coins set to disappear, the foundation of that system is being dismantled. The very mechanism that provided players with Sweeps Coins will no longer exist. Instead, the operator has promised a “game-changing new feature,” though details remain tightly under wraps.
The dual-currency model, first pioneered by Global Poker in 2016, has since become the industry standard and helped sweepstakes gaming explode in popularity across the US. But it has also become a lightning rod for criticism.
Regulators and lawmakers have ramped up scrutiny, and in recent months, more states have moved against sweepstakes poker operators. Some have sent cease-and-desist letters, while others have passed legislation outright banning the model. Sweepstakes operators have already exited states like New Jersey, Michigan, Connecticut, and Nevada. California could soon follow, with a bill banning sweepstakes gaming now awaiting only the Governor’s signature.
By scrapping its dual-currency setup, ClubWPT Gold appears to be testing a potential workaround, a way to keep the platform alive while easing the regulatory pressure.
Possible Paths for ClubWPT Gold Post Removal of Gold Coins
What shape this change will take is uncertain, but we can explore the likely options on the table. One option is the classic subscription model, where players pay a monthly fee to access exclusive games and tournaments. However, this is the same format used by the original ClubWPT, which has operated successfully for over 15 years. Creating a duplicate would raise questions about why ClubWPT Gold exists separately.
Another option is the “Texas Card Club” model, currently used by Hijack Poker. In this structure, online play is treated as an extension of live card rooms, with players paying hourly fees rather than rake. Deposits are accepted through credit cards, cryptocurrency, or in person at affiliated venues, and withdrawals are processed by Bitcoin or cashouts at retail locations. While innovative, this approach is legally untested, limited geographically, and would invite intense scrutiny if ClubWPT Gold adopted it.
There is also speculation around ClubWPT Gold’s recently acquired training site, Upswing Poker. Upswing already offers bonus Sweeps Coins when players purchase courses or subscribe to training packages. For example, a $999 course comes with 50 SC, while Lab subscriptions grant 10 SC for monthly plans, 40 SC for six-month plans, and 70 SC for annual plans, with bonuses repeating on renewal. Extending this model could create a replacement for Gold Coin purchases, where players effectively buy courses instead of virtual currency.
Currently, Gold Coins are sold in fixed bundles priced at $4.99, $19.99, $49.99, $99.99, $499.99, and $999.99. Each purchase grants players large amounts of Gold Coins alongside a set amount of Sweeps Coins — for example, a $99.99 package provides over one million Gold Coins plus 100 SC. There is no option for custom purchase amounts, so those players seeking larger sums must buy multiple bundles.
If Gold Coins are phased out, Upswing courses could fill that role, giving buyers both access to training material and Sweeps Coins in return. Many courses are already priced at levels similar to existing Gold Coin packages, making the transition plausible.
Still, while feasible, such a system could face liquidity challenges if the entire Sweeps Coin economy becomes tied to training purchases. Even so, the deepening connection between ClubWPT Gold and Upswing makes this scenario one to watch closely.
Whatever direction the operator chooses, phasing out Gold Coins marks a major turning point in its business model. The one-week delay may not be accidental.
California, one of its largest markets, is on the verge of banning sweepstakes gambling, with a bill already passed by the legislature and now awaiting the Governor’s decision. It is possible that ClubWPT Gold is holding off until the bill is either signed or vetoed before moving forward with its new model.
Meanwhile, ahead of the big change, the operator has withdrawn from two more states: Connecticut and Louisiana.
