Apple and Google face RICO lawsuit over sweepstake casino gambling
Tech giants Apple and Google are facing a class action lawsuit for allegedly facilitating illegal gambling through sweepstakes casino games in the App Store and Google Play, respectively.
Filed in New Jersey District Court on November 28, the lawsuit accuses the tech giants and their payment services of assisting four operators – High 5 Casino, Wow Vegas, Crowncoins Casino, and McLuck – by processing payments and profiting from illegal gambling activities.
The lawsuit claims that the sweepstakes games, which offer virtual coins for playing casino-style games, often fail to pay out winnings despite promises of cash rewards. The plaintiffs argue that Apple and Google’s involvement violates the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
The case follows efforts to ban sweepstakes casinos in the US, with new legislation proposing fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per offence and up to two years in prison for repeat offenders.
