False advertising

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed two lawsuits in Hillsborough County Circuit Court against operators of prominent online "sweepstakes" casinos, including Stake and VGW's Chumba Casino, Luckyland, and Global Parker, along with the payment processors that support them. The suits allege the platforms run illegal online gambling operations in violation of Florida's gambling laws and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

The complaints target a dual-currency model — combining "gold coins" with "sweep coins" or "stake cash" — that allegedly disguises real-money wagering as free social entertainment while offering slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker. Uthmeier argues these platforms exploit Floridians, including minors and seniors, through deceptive marketing while evading licensing, taxation, and consumer-protection rules. The state is seeking permanent injunctions barring operations in Florida, forfeiture of consumer losses, disgorgement of profits, civil penalties, restitution, and attorneys' fees. The case adds to mounting legal and regulatory scrutiny of sweepstakes casinos across multiple U.S. states, a sector prediction markets have increasingly tracked amid questions over its long-term legality.