Florida AG Uthmeier Targets Sweepstakes Casino Ads

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Wed Sep 30, 2026, 11:00 am ET

Read Time: 5 minutes

Florida AG Uthmeier Targets Sweepstakes Casino Ads

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is expanding his sweepstakes casino crackdown to the companies carrying their advertisements.

Announcing the move on X, Uthmeier sent letters to Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok last week. He wants the platforms to stop promoting sweepstakes casinos to Florida residents.

The companies have until October 23 to explain how they prevent such advertisements from reaching Floridians. The letters identify Stake, Chumba Casino, LuckyLand and Global Poker. VGW operates the latter three brands.

The latest move comes after Uthmeier filed lawsuits against Stake and VGW last month. Those complaints also named payment processors connected to the operators.

The lawsuits allege that the companies operate illegal online gambling businesses in violation of Florida law. They also cite the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, or FDUTPA.

Uthmeier has now extended that approach to the marketing infrastructure supporting those businesses.

AG Uthmeier Targets the Advertising Supply Chain

The attorney general argues that promoting illegal gambling can also violate Florida law.

"Through these lawsuits, my office has made it clear that Florida will not tolerate illegal gambling, and we will pursue both those who operate and those who facilitate these criminal operations," Uthmeier wrote in last week's letters.

That position places Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok under additional scrutiny. Uthmeier wants each company to provide written details about its measures against sweepstakes casino advertising.

The dispute centers partly on the dual-currency model used by many sweepstakes platforms. These sites generally offer promotional currencies alongside redeemable sweepstakes currencies.

Operators argue that free-entry methods support their classification as promotional sweepstakes. Uthmeier instead argues that the redeemable currencies create an illegal gambling product under Florida law.

The courts have not yet resolved those competing interpretations.

Florida Lawmakers Failed to Pass a Ban

The latest enforcement effort also follows an unsuccessful legislative push during Florida's 2026 session.

Lawmakers considered several gambling measures that could have addressed unauthorized internet gaming. HB 591 and SB 1580 were among the bills considered during the session.

HB 591 ultimately died in committee, while SB 1580 died when the legislative session ended. The Senate's official records show that SB 1580's final action occurred on March 13.

Consequently, Florida did not enact a dedicated statewide sweepstakes casino ban during the 2026 session.

Uthmeier's lawsuits instead rely on existing gambling provisions and FDUTPA. His office can therefore challenge the operators without waiting for lawmakers to create a sweepstakes-specific prohibition.

The Seminole Compact Adds Another Layer

Florida's broader gaming structure also provides important context for the dispute.

The state's 2021 compact with the Seminole Tribe grants the Tribe significant gaming exclusivity. The agreement also provides substantial revenue-sharing payments to Florida.

State officials projected at least $2.5 billion in revenue during the compact's first five years. They also estimated more than $6 billion through 2030.

Uthmeier has previously connected illegal gaming enforcement with protecting the Seminole compact. In June, he said illegal gambling operations "undermine our compact with the Seminole Tribe," which provides billions of dollars to Florida.

That financial framework matters because sweepstakes casinos offer casino-style products outside the state's licensed gaming structure.

Florida's regulated online sports betting market operates through the Seminole Tribe's compact. That makes the sweepstakes debate relevant to the broader Florida gambling landscape, including established US online sportsbooks.

That distinction is important because Florida does not currently license US online casinos for real-money casino gaming, making sweepstakes platforms a separate legal issue.

Election Adds Political Context

Uthmeier is also pursuing a full term after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him attorney general in February 2025.

He is the Republican nominee for attorney general and faces Democratic nominee José Javier Rodríguez in the November 3 general election. Florida's Division of Elections lists Uthmeier as the Republican incumbent and Rodríguez as the Democratic candidate.

The timing gives the sweepstakes crackdown an additional political context. However, available reporting does not establish that the election caused Uthmeier's decisions.

The campaign has nonetheless made illegal gambling enforcement a visible part of Uthmeier's public record. His office has also pursued other forms of illegal gaming during his tenure.

Florida Joins a Wider Sweepstakes Fight

Florida's actions are part of a broader national shift toward tighter oversight of sweepstakes gaming.

California prohibited dual-currency sweepstakes platforms under AB 831 beginning in January 2026. Connecticut also enacted restrictions covering sweepstakes promotions involving simulated gambling.

Michigan has taken a regulatory approach through its Gaming Control Board. The regulator has treated sweepstakes casino platforms as unauthorized gaming and issued enforcement notices.

Louisiana officials have also targeted online casino-style sweepstakes products. The state's attorney general has said such platforms are illegal without authorization.

New York has pursued the issue through both enforcement and legislation. In September, Attorney General Letitia James announced an $8 million settlement with VGW over its Chumba Casino, Global Poker and Luckyland Slots operations. New York had already enacted a formal sweepstakes casino ban.

Florida therefore enters an increasingly active national regulatory environment. However, its approach currently relies on existing laws and litigation rather than a dedicated sweepstakes casino statute.

For now, the next major development will come from the technology companies. Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok must respond to Uthmeier's demands by October 23.

Their responses could determine how the advertising side of Florida's sweepstakes crackdown develops while the underlying lawsuits against Stake and VGW continue.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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