Florida attorney general James Uthmeier filed two civil lawsuits against Stake.us, VGW and related entities over alleged illegal sweepstakes casino operations. The cases also name payment companies, and the allegations have not been resolved by the court.
The lawsuits could extend legal and compliance exposure to payment providers serving sweepstakes casino platforms in Florida.
| Date | Company | Amount | Story | Appeal status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stake, VGW | Not stated | Florida attorney general sues Stake and VGW over alleged unlicensed gambling | Not stated | |
| Stake, VGW | Not stated | Florida attorney general brings sweepstakes casino cases against Stake, VGW and payment providers | Not stated |
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sent Reddit, Snap and TikTok letters demanding that they stop carrying adverts for sweepstakes gambling platforms in the state. The companies have until 23 October to confirm removal and explain how they will prevent future adverts; the letters cite Stake and VGW brands including Chumba Casino, LuckyLand and Global Poker.
VGW will pay $8m to resolve a New York investigation into its online sweepstakes casinos. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the resolution involving VGW and affiliates Chumba Casino, Global Poker and LuckyLand Slots.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office sent cease-and-desist letters to 38 online sweepstakes casino websites on 29 December, and said the recipients had indicated they would comply. The office considers the platforms’ dual-currency model an illegal lottery that violates state gambling and consumer protection laws.
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto filed a civil enforcement lawsuit against Stake.us, its owners, Kick Streaming, Evolution and other suppliers, alleging they operated or aided an illegal gambling enterprise in California. The complaint also names Evolution subsidiaries NetEnt, Red Tiger and NoLimit City, as well as Hacksaw Gaming. The companies’ responses to this case were not included in the report.
VGW said it would phase out Promotional Play in New Jersey, where a bill banning sweepstakes casinos awaits Governor Phil Murphy’s action or automatic approval. Users were due to stop earning Sweeps Coins on 29 July, while play with existing coins was to remain available until 26 August; Promotional Play was scheduled to end on 24 September.