TLDR Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier warned Google, Meta, and TikTok to stop hosting ads for online sweepstakes casinos. The companies have until October 23 to confirm in writing that the ads have been removed. In August, Florida sued Stake, VGW’s Chumba Casino, LuckyLand, Global Poker, and their payment processors. The state says the sites’ dual-currency systems let players redeem winnings for cash, crypto, or gift cards. Florida seeks permanent injunctions, restitution, forfeiture of proceeds, and civil penalties.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has warned major tech companies to stop running ads for online sweepstakes casinos. The warning covers Google, Meta, and TikTok, according to reports.
Uthmeier said the companies could face legal consequences if the ads stay up. He stressed that promoting illegal gambling is a crime under Florida law.
In a letter sent to Google’s general counsel, Uthmeier laid out his office’s position. “Google therefore cannot advertise these illegal ‘sweepstake’ websites on its social media platforms in Florida,” he wrote.
Lawsuits Filed Against Operators in August
The letter follows lawsuits his office filed in August. Those suits target Stake and VGW’s Chumba Casino, LuckyLand, and Global Poker. Payment processors that support the operators were also named.
Florida law tightly restricts gambling. None of the sweepstakes casinos named in the suits are authorized to operate in the state.
The state argued that these sites are not simple social games. It said they run casino-style operations around the clock while avoiding the licensing, taxes, and consumer protections required by state law.
“If it looks like a casino, takes real money like a casino, and pays out like a casino, it is a casino, and it is illegal under Florida law,” Uthmeier said in a statement at the time.
How the Dual-Currency System Works
The case focuses on