Florida Sues Gambling Sites Allegedly Preying On Seniors
Lawsuits against allegedly illegal online gambling sites are common across the U.S. What is uncommon is litigation that explicitly mentions seniors as potential victims.
That’s a key takeaway from a pair of lawsuits the State of Florida filed against Stake Casino and Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW). Florida alleges that these operators of casino-style gambling are operating illegally in the state and preying on its residents.
Stake and VGW have been sued numerous times over the years for similar allegations. There has yet to be a landmark verdict or judgment against either of them.
Most lawsuits of this kind focus on minors who may access the platforms or people in general experiencing gambling addiction.
What makes Florida’s cases notable is their explicit focus on harm to seniors.
“These so-called ‘sweepstakes’ and ‘social casinos’ are illegal online gambling operations,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier in a statement. “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.”
The attorney general’s mention of seniors perhaps isn’t surprising given Florida’s demographics.
According to U.S. Census figures, Florida ranks No. 4 among states in the percentage of seniors and No. 2 by actual number, with just over 5 million residents aged 65+.
The Florida lawsuits could serve as a much-needed reminder that older Americans shouldn’t take a backseat in the public-health movement addressing gambling-related harm.
These days, there is no shortage of concern about children accessing harmful gambling products. But there also shouldn’t be any shortage for seniors.
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