Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is pursuing legal action against two major sweepstakes casino operators, alleging their platforms amount to illegal gambling under state law.
One lawsuit targets VGW, which operates Chumba Casino and Global Poker, along with its payment processors. A separate case has been filed against Stake, which operates the Stake.us sweepstakes platform.
Uthmeier is seeking to prevent the companies from offering their services in Florida and recover money lost by players. The state is also seeking civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each willful violation and up to $15,000 for violations involving minors, seniors or customers with disabilities.
The action comes after attempts to address sweepstakes casinos through legislation failed earlier in 2026. Senate Bill 1404 and House Bill 1467 sought changes targeting the sector but did not pass.
Sweepstakes casino platforms typically use a dual-currency model. Players can use virtual currencies such as Gold Coins for free-play games, while Sweeps Coins can be used in games offering prizes.
That model has faced increasing legal and regulatory scrutiny as states debate whether the platforms should be treated as gambling businesses. Operators have maintained sweepstakes structures that distinguish their products from conventional online casinos, while some have increased their minimum player age from 18 to 21.
Florida's action follows similar cases elsewhere in the US. New York recently reached an $8m settlement with VGW over allegations involving its sweepstakes casino operations, while a Washington jury last year ordered High 5 Casino to pay $24.9m in damages to players.
The Florida lawsuits remain at an early stage. Chumba Casino, Global Poker and Stake.us remain accessible in the state while the cases proceed.
Several US states have recently moved to restrict sweepstakes casino operations
