ClubWPT Gold has revolutionized sweepstakes poker

A training website instead of a poker room?

ClubWPT Gold has undergone a major update. The platform has not simply abandoned the classic dual-currency system of sweepstakes poker, but has introduced a completely new approach to "social poker."

Reference: Previously, the site, like other sweepstakes platforms, used two currencies: Gold Coins and Sweep Coins. Gold Coins could be purchased but not exchanged for cash. Sweep Coins were awarded as a bonus for purchasing Gold Coins and could be exchanged for cash. This system allowed the platform to operate in almost all US states without a license, as it excluded real-money betting.

Since September 28, 2025, ClubWPT Gold has been using two new currencies:

1. Hand Analysis Credits – credits for hand analysis (replacing Gold Coins). While a player has credits, each VPIP hand is analyzed by a GTO solver. Reports appear in the Training section. Specific hands cannot be selected – the system analyzes all hands.
2. Chips are game chips (a replacement for Sweep Coins). They are awarded as a bonus when purchasing credits and can be exchanged for real money.

Thus, the poker room has added an educational element: players not only play but also receive a fully functional training tool. Now they are essentially "buying training," not virtual coins. This fundamentally changes the site's legal status.

It's no coincidence that before the update, ClubWPT Gold acquired Doug Polk's training platform, Upswing Poker.

Reasons

According to experts, the transition to the new model is related to the deteriorating situation of sweepstakes sites in the US.

In 2025, six states (Montana, Connecticut, California, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York) passed laws banning sweepstakes casinos and poker rooms. Several more states are preparing similar legislation.

Lawmakers and regulators often classify such sites as illegal gambling platforms: they lack licenses and do not pay taxes. Additional pressure comes from lobbyists for licensed operators and players who have suffered at the hands of unscrupulous companies.

ClubWPT Gold is trying to:

• maintain access to large markets (such as California);
• minimize the risk of complaints and lawsuits;
• change the public and regulators' perception of online poker.

Prediction

The potential consequences of the reform can be considered under three scenarios.

Optimistic

The new model is recognized as extending beyond gambling. States that previously banned sweepstakes poker rooms are not imposing strict restrictions or even approving the format as "educational."

ClubWPT Gold's revenue is growing thanks to players who value training and analytics. The company is becoming a market leader. Other poker rooms are implementing their own training services. A new "training and play" niche is emerging, player skill levels are growing, and the audience is becoming more loyal.

Neutral

Regulators are cautious about the new model. ClubWPT Gold continues to operate, but with restrictions in some states. Revenue remains at the level of the old model. Some players uninterested in training are leaving, but the core remains.

Some competitors are experimenting with analytics, but there is no mass migration. The market remains mixed: old and new models operate in parallel.

Crisis

Regulators view the "training and play" model as merely a way to circumvent the ban on classic sweepstakes poker and are introducing new restrictions. ClubWPT Gold is forced to close in key states.

Revenues are falling sharply, and some players are switching to offshore platforms like the Chico and Winning (WPN) networks. Sweepstakes poker is losing ground.

Which of these scenarios will become clear within the next year. We believe the neutral scenario is the most likely.

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