Florida AG Targets Meta, Google Over Sweepstakes Casino Ads

According to Gulf Coast News Now, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is coming after platforms like Meta and Google for promoting unregulated sweepstakes casinos, specifically targeting illegal gambling ads. Uthmeier sent letters to five major tech companies after learning that ads for platforms like Stake and Global Poker appeared there, even though Florida law deems them illegal. 

Sweepstakes casinos differ from real-money online casinos because you can purchase Gold Coin packages that come with "free" Sweeps Coins. You can then redeem Sweeps Coins once you reach a certain threshold for cash prizes or gift cards. 

"Yeah, we've gotten those ads a couple times," said a person named Scottie Anderson, whom Gulf Coast News Now didn't identify beyond his name. In his letter, Uthmeier said he'll be pursuing legal action against not only the operators, but those that "facilitate their activities." On the back of these notices, Uthmeier reiterated his commitment to protecting residents from the "risks associated with unregulated gambling."

"You know, even when I'm just going through social media, I usually see random ads about these casinos. I've never heard of them before," said Eduardo Parada, another person Gulf Coast News Now mentioned without identifying who this personn was. 

"Some of these people around here that, you've seen some busts go down lately, but these illegal, you know, betting, you know, schemes that they have. And it's like, what are you actually going to win in these places? I mean, casino always wins," Anderson said.

Florida Gives Tech Companies October 23 Deadline

According to the letter Uthmeier sent, the companies have until October 23 to stop running these ads. 

Florida Previously Sued Sweepstakes Casino Operators

These notices follow Florida's August lawsuit against Stake.us and Virtual Gaming Worlds. 

“These so-called ‘sweepstakes’ and ‘social casinos’ are illegal online gambling operations,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier in a statement last week. “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. These companies have been preying on Floridians, including minors and seniors, with deceptive marketing, and 24/7 access, while dodging our state’s licensing, taxation, and consumer-protection requirements. They must be stopped.”