Florida attorney general sues Stake and VGW over sweepstakes casinos
The lawsuits also target payment processors accused of facilitating transactions on the platforms.
US.- Florida attorney general James Uthmeier has sued sweepstakes casino operators Stake and VGW, alleging that their platforms constitute illegal online gambling under state law. The complaints, filed in Hillsborough County Circuit Court, also name payment processors accused of facilitating transactions linked to the platforms.
The Stake complaint names Sweepstakes Ltd., doing business as Stake.us, as well as Trustly, Praxis and Breeze Labs. The VGW case targets Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, LuckyLand Casino and Global Poker, alongside Worldpay, Trustly and Worldpay Holdco.
“These so-called ‘sweepstakes’ and ‘social casinos’ are illegal online gambling operations,” Uthmeier said. He accused the companies of using deceptive marketing and avoiding Florida’s licensing, taxation and consumer-protection requirements.
Florida is seeking permanent injunctions preventing the companies from operating or soliciting customers in the state. The Attorney General is also seeking recovery of money lost by Florida consumers, restitution, disgorgement, civil penalties under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and attorneys’ fees.
The cases focus on the dual-currency model used by the platforms, through which customers purchase non-redeemable virtual currency and receive a secondary currency that can be used on casino-style games and later redeemed for cash or other value. Florida alleges that the structure effectively constitutes real-money gambling.
Uthmeier’s action follows subpoenas issued to sweepstakes operators in January and comes after Florida lawmakers failed to pass gambling enforcement measures during the 2026 legislative session. Several states have sought to take action against sweepstakes casinos, including Indiana, Maine, Tennessee and Louisiana.
