Published on: September 30, 2025, 09:00h.
Updated on: September 29, 2025, 02:51h.
- Publishers Clearing House secures insurance to safeguard its winners
- PCH was acquired in June by an online sweepstakes gaming firm
- Winners from the previous PCH management are facing disruptions in their guaranteed “forever” payments
The newly appointed leadership of Publishers Clearing House (PCH) assures players that their winnings will be disbursed without issues in the future.
After several issues arose from previous PCH winners of the “$5,000 A Week Forever” prize being informed that their expected payouts would cease, the new management is taking measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
In June, ARB Interactive, renowned for its Modo Casino, purchased PCH for $7.1 million along with $378K in overdue expenses. This acquisition followed PCH’s bankruptcy filing aimed at restructuring the company, which led to an end to its previous prize commitments.
The Miami-based organization informed Casino.org that it’s launching the PCH Prize Protection Program to ensure that all future winnings are honored, irrespective of the company’s financial health.
Guaranteed Prize Payments
A former executive from PCH, who authored “Downfall of an Icon: The True Inside Story of Publishers Clearing House,” stated that the previous management had ceased purchasing insurance for its winners in 2003. ARB Interactive commits to introducing measures that will protect prize payouts awarded under its direction.
By appointing Owen O’Donoghue as the new CEO of PCH, ARB Interactive disclosed plans to establish an escrow account that ensures all winners receive their promised rewards through the revamped Publishers Clearing House mobile sweepstakes.
Funded with prime investment assets in FDIC-insured escrow accounts and managed via a bank-run investment mechanism, this initiative secures payments for substantial annuity prizes, showcasing PCH’s commitment to reliability and accountability,” stated a PCH announcement.
O’Donoghue emphasized that the Prize Protection Program guarantees “every winner has protection.”
New York’s Southern District Bankruptcy Court approved ARB’s acquisition of PCH, ruling that ARB holds no responsibility for any prize obligations incurred by the former PCH prior to July 15, 2025.
Current Promotions
The days of PCH enticing customers door-to-door with magazine subscriptions are a thing of the past. Today, PCH operates in the digital realm, offering visitors the chance to enter sweepstakes games for free. However, the odds of winning are significantly lower than securing a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot combined.
For instance, the probability of winning this week’s $10,000 cash prize stands at 1 in 4.8 billion.
The PCH site provides direct access to ARB’s Modo Casino, where players can engage in free-to-play casino games and purchase secondary gaming tokens, known as Modo Sweeps Coins, that can be converted into cash.
Sweepstakes Casinos Explained
Sweepstakes casinos are currently under legal examination nationwide. Supporters, including ARB Interactive and its main rival, VGW, argue that these online games qualify as sweepstakes promotions. Detractors assert that they are clever circumventions of online gambling regulations.
Recently, McDonald’s announced the return of its famous and controversial Monopoly promotion, encouraging customers to collect properties for a chance to win $1 million. Participation doesn’t require a purchase, although buying food and drinks can enhance winning chances.
Modo and similar social casinos reference the McDonald’s Monopoly sweepstakes promotion as a legal rationale for their online gaming systems.