Just weeks after abruptly exiting the New York market, ClubWPT Gold has quietly reopened access to players in the Empire State, marking an unexpected reversal that has caught many by surprise.
In early December, the online poker platform announced it would cease operations in New York following the introduction of Senate Bill S5935A, legislation aimed at outlawing online sweepstakes-style gaming. The sudden change forced New York players to travel out of state simply to access their accounts and withdraw balances. At the time, the message appeared definitive.
Now, barely a month later, ClubWPT Gold is back. The operator has offered little in the way of explanation, issuing only a brief and direct message: “We’re back, New York.”
A Legal Shift Behind the Scenes?
Until September, ClubWPT Gold operated under a dual-currency sweepstakes model. Players could purchase Gold Coins for play-money games and receive Sweeps Coins alongside them—tokens with real-world value that could be won and cashed out. New York’s S5935A legislation closed that door, mirroring similar efforts seen in California with Bill 831.
Anticipating regulatory pressure, ClubWPT Gold had already begun reshaping its model. Instead of selling currency directly, the platform started awarding Chips—usable in real-money games—through the purchase of hand analysis credits. This coincided with the brand’s broader shift toward education, highlighted by its acquisition of Doug Polk’s Upswing Poker training platform.
In California, where new legislation took effect on January 1, ClubWPT Gold responded by introducing “California Game Days,” limiting real-money play to nine days per month. The approach appears to rely on language in the law allowing sweepstakes gaming on a “limited and occasional basis.”
Whether New York players will face similar restrictions remains unclear. With no detailed announcement so far, it’s assumed that ClubWPT Gold’s legal team believes it has found a compliant pathway back into the state under its interpretation of the new law.
Mixed Messages Remain
Despite the relaunch, some uncertainty persists. At the time of writing, ClubWPT Gold’s FAQ still lists New York among jurisdictions where the site is not legally available, alongside states such as Washington, New Jersey, Louisiana, and Michigan, as well as Quebec in Canada.
The company has consistently emphasized its commitment to operating within the law in every market it serves, suggesting that further clarification may be forthcoming.
A Turbulent Moment for the WPT Brand
ClubWPT Gold’s return to New York comes during an especially chaotic period for the wider World Poker Tour ecosystem. Over the past 24 hours, confusion has spilled across social media following WPT Global’s announcement that controversial player Ren Lin would join as an ambassador.
Lin was previously banned by GGPoker and disqualified from a WSOP Super Circuit event in Cyprus after allegations of ghosting surfaced, supported by messages reportedly admitting wrongdoing. The backlash led to public disagreement and deleted posts between WPT, WPT Global, and ClubWPT Gold.
The fallout also prompted long-time ambassadors Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin to immediately step away from their roles with WPT Global, citing the decision as incompatible with their values.
Against that backdrop, ClubWPT Gold’s quiet re-entry into New York adds yet another twist to an already eventful chapter for the WPT brand.
