Happy Fishing

What is Happy Fishing?

Sweepstakes casino platforms like VGW have ramped up their lobbying efforts in state capitals after suffering numerous operational setbacks in recent years.

Through the passing of laws banning dual-currency sweepstakes games or by cease-and-desist orders, VGW has exited numerous states and limited where sweeps coins, which can be bought and gambled for real money, are available.

Chumba Casino, VGW’s flagship brand, says in its Sept. 16 updated terms and conditions that the platform is not available in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia.

About Happy Fishing

This is Midnite’s third ASA ruling this year. Last month, the operator came under scrutiny for an ad that suggested that “gambling was an escape from personal problems”. The ASA received 125 complaints on the offending ad and the company was ordered to remove the advertisement. 

Another June ruling was not upheld.

In a separate case, the ASA examined display advertising for White Hat Gaming’s Casimba and The Grand Ivy Casino brands, which had appeared on HLTV.org – a specialist Counter-Strike 2 e-sports website – in March 2026.

What is Happy Fishing?

In June, Grasso wrote an opinion piece in the Chicago Tribune criticizing what he described as media coverage that unfairly associates Italian Americans with organized crime. However, he did not directly name Rovito in the piece.

“I’ve sadly watched some members of the Chicago news media stigmatize Italian Americans as Outfit members or mafia operatives whenever it serves to embellish a story,” Grasso wrote. 

“The Outfit still sells, pathetically. It’s time that it stops. Or as I like to say: Basta. Enough.”