Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has sent letters to social media companies, including Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap, and TikTok, after his office identified advertising for online sweepstakes casinos that it deems unauthorized to operate in the state.
- Florida AG James Uthmeier has targeted social media companies over sweepstakes casino advertising.
- Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap, and TikTok have until Oct. 23 to respond to the letters.
- The companies must outline measures to prevent sweepstakes casino ads from reaching Florida residents.
The companies have been given until Oct. 23 to confirm they have stopped promoting sweepstakes gaming sites, including Stake, Chumba, LuckyLand, and Global Poker, to Florida residents.
Uthmeier also said the companies must respond in writing with details of the measures they will implement to prevent further advertising of the platforms in Florida.
“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 his letter.
He added, “(The platforms are) not authorized to operate gambling websites or online casinos in Florida. The promotion and advertisement of such illegal gambling in Florida is similarly unlawful under Florida law. Google therefore cannot advertise these illegal ‘sweepstake’ websites on its social media platforms in Florida.”
I sent letters to Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap, and TikTok after learning they may be advertising illegal “sweepstakes” casinos.
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) September 25, 2026
Promoting illegal gambling is a crime. Big Tech has until October 23 to confirm it has stopped advertising sites like Stake, Chumba, LuckyLand, and… pic.twitter.com/KtQY2TCpR5
Online real-money casino gaming is currently illegal in Florida, while Hard Rock Bet is the state’s only authorized online sports betting platform.
The letters follow Uthmeier's legal action in August. His office filed two complaints in Hillsborough County Circuit Court against Stake and VGW, whose brands include Chumba Casino, LuckyLand, and Global Poker, as well as payment processors connected to the platforms.
The lawsuits alleged the companies were running illegal online gambling operations and violating Florida gambling laws and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Florida joins list of states targeting sweeps casinos
Florida’s action comes as other U.S. states introduce restrictions on sweepstakes casinos. Maine Governor Janet Mills signed LD 2007 in April, outlawing dual-currency sweepstakes platforms.
The law covers the operation and promotion of qualifying platforms and establishes civil and criminal penalties, including fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation, with fines going directly to Maine’s Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund.
Indiana also introduced legislation targeting sweepstakes casinos, with Governor Mike Braun signing HB 1052 into law in March. The law prohibits online sweeps games that use dual-currency systems and simulate casino-style or lottery games.
Tennessee, Louisiana, and Oklahoma also introduced measures this year that restrict or target sweepstakes gaming operations.
