Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has told Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok to stop carrying advertisements for sweepstakes casino sites in the state by Oct. 23, widening his office’s action beyond the operators and payment firms already facing lawsuits.
The letters warned that Florida could take legal action against both the platforms operating the sites and businesses that facilitate their activities. The companies were also asked to provide written explanations of the measures they will take to prevent Florida residents from seeing the advertisements.
According to Casino Reports, Uthmeier’s letter to Google named Stake and VGW brands Chumba Casino, LuckyLand and Global Poker as sites advertised on its platforms. The letter said the sites were not authorised to operate gambling websites or online casinos in Florida, and that promoting unauthorised gambling sites was unlawful under state law.
The advertising demands follow two complaints filed in Hillsborough County Circuit Court on Aug. 19 against Stake, VGW’s Chumba Casino, LuckyLand and Global Poker, as well as payment processors alleged to have enabled the businesses. As covered in August, Florida’s earlier suits sought to stop the operators from doing business in the state and recover consumers’ losses.
The attorney general’s office alleges that the sites use a dual-currency model: customers buy packages of Gold Coins bundled with Stake Cash or Sweeps Coins, then use the latter as redeemable wagering credits. The credits can be exchanged for cryptocurrency, gift cards or cash after minimal play-through requirements, according to the state’s announcement.
The complaints allege that the sites offered games including slots, blackjack, roulette and poker while marketing themselves as free, safe and legal social entertainment. They also accuse the companies of using influencer and promotional campaigns, accepting payment methods including credit cards and Apple Pay, and targeting Florida residents.
Florida is seeking permanent injunctions barring the defendants from operating or soliciting in the state, alongside consumer-loss recovery, restitution, disgorgement, civil penalties and attorneys’ fees. Uthmeier has said Florida will pursue those who operate and those who facilitate what his office characterises as illegal gambling operations.
