ClubWPT Gold (CWG), the favored sweepstakes poker platform catering to gamers throughout the US and Canada, has quietly begun making use of gross sales tax to sure participant purchases in choose jurisdictions.
Based on the platform’s FAQ, the brand new coverage got here into impact on April 1, though its official phrases and circumstances have but to be up to date to mirror the change.
As outlined within the Gross sales Tax FAQ, not all gamers might be impacted. Solely these in particular areas will see gross sales tax added to eligible digital purchases, with the precise quantity relying on a participant’s bodily location on the time of the transaction.
ClubWPT Gold operates on a sweepstakes-style mannequin. Whereas it claims to not observe a standard dual-currency system, its construction is kind of related. Gamers should buy entry to a coaching function known as Hand Evaluation, and in doing so, obtain HA credit. Alongside these credit, gamers are additionally awarded a secondary token known as “Chips,” which capabilities equally to Sweeps Cash (SC) used on different platforms.
These Chips can be utilized to enter video games and are redeemable for actual cash at an ordinary 1-to-1 fee. Gamers may also go for Gold Subscriptions, which likewise embrace Chips as a part of the package deal.
With the brand new coverage, some gamers will now see gross sales tax utilized to those purchases. The precise share varies and has not been publicly detailed, however the operator notes that the ultimate quantity might be clearly displayed earlier than finishing a transaction.
Addressing the change in its FAQ, CWG states: “ClubWPT Gold should start accumulating gross sales tax on sure digital merchandise in taxable U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions to adjust to rules and legal guidelines.”
Following International Poker’s Lead
With this transfer, ClubWPT Gold turns into the second sweepstakes poker operator to introduce gross sales tax on purchases. International Poker was the primary to take action, implementing the coverage in July 2025. Its sister manufacturers, LuckyLand Slots and Chumba On line casino, adopted swimsuit.
Their dad or mum firm, VGW, seemingly made the transfer to exhibit cooperation with lawmakers, notably in California, the place laws concentrating on sweepstakes gaming was into consideration on the time (and has since been enacted). Throughout a legislative listening to, VGW indicated it “could be completely satisfied to” gather and remit gross sales tax as a gesture of excellent religion, pointing to projections that the state may generate as much as $149 million yearly in tax income if correct frameworks have been launched.
CWG seems to be following the same path, presumably to strengthen its standing with regulators and reinforce the legitimacy of its enterprise mannequin. Final yr, Adam Pliska, President and CEO of the WPT, addressed lawmakers in New Jersey, advocating for regulation over prohibition. He famous that whereas New Jersey doesn’t presently tax sweeps-based purchases, different states do and urged that adopting the same method may very well be price contemplating.
For now, key particulars stay unclear. The FAQ doesn’t specify which states are affected or what actual tax charges are being utilized.
Within the US, most states impose gross sales tax, with a number of exceptions—Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Base state charges usually vary from 2.9% to 7.25%, and native taxes can push the full as excessive as 13% in some areas.
At current, solely International Poker and CWG are making use of gross sales tax, whereas different sweepstakes platforms like Golf equipment Poker and Stake US have but to observe.
But One other Value for CWG Gamers
For gamers, this marks yet one more added price. CWG has already drawn criticism for monetizing options which might be usually free elsewhere. In March 2025, it launched a paid Time Financial institution function, requiring gamers to spend a portion of their massive blind—beginning at 20%—to activate it.
Then, in August 2025, the platform rolled out a “Reveal Fingers” function, permitting gamers to view all gap playing cards after a hand concludes, once more for a charge. Extra lately, in January 2026, it started charging for one more generally free function: “Rabbit Hunt.”
Whereas these options stay non-obligatory, the cumulative impact is obvious. With the addition of gross sales tax—on high of present charges and rake—the general price of taking part in on the platform continues to rise.
That stated, the operator maintains that these measures are pushed by regulatory necessities and that collected taxes could finally be remitted to state authorities. Whether or not this helps safe the long-term viability of its operations stays to be seen.
