HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — In two lawsuits, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier claimed online social casinos’ “dual-currency model” was violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, which protects consumers from deceptive practices.
Uthmeier’s office filed the lawsuits against several VGW companies, Yodlee, Trustly, Worldpay Holdco, and Stake in Hillsborough County, accusing the “illegal online casinos” of harming users and depriving the state of “licensing, taxation, and other revenues.”
VGW’s “sale and use of its Sweeps Coins currency” openly flouts Florida’s gambling laws for “ill-gotten gains from Floridians, the state’s lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit also claims the companies “deceptively” advertise “free,” “100% safe,” and “100% legal” casino games, providing easy 24/7 access, accepting credit cards and Apple Pay, and using influencers.
“If it looks like a casino, takes money like a casino, and pays out like a casino, it is a casino—and it’s illegal in Florida,” Uthmeier said in a statement on X. “That’s why we’re suing predatory online gaming sites Stake and VGW to stop illegal gambling and recover money lost by Florida consumers.”
Attorneys for the companies could not be reached for comment.
Related social media post
If it looks like a casino, takes money like a casino, and pays out like a casino, it is a casino—and it’s illegal in Florida.
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) August 19, 2026
That’s why we’re suing predatory online gaming sites Stake and VGW to stop illegal gambling and recover money lost by Florida consumers. pic.twitter.com/JMboneyvxN
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