Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
A new lawsuit filed in Illinois aims to recover losses tied to activity on the social casino platform Stake.com. The case was brought by Brayden Urdan and is backed by the same legal team that secured $25 million in a recent case against High 5 Games.
The lawsuit argues that Stake, while branding itself as a social casino, operates as an unlicensed online gambling platform. It opens with the claim, “Stake.com is one of the most popular and profitable casinos on the planet,” before pointing out that “despite its global dominance, Stake.com was blocked from entering the U.S. market, where online gambling is highly regulated and banned entirely in many states, including Illinois.”
Stake’s Business Model Under Review
Stake allows users to play games using virtual tokens like Gold Coins and Stake Cash. These digital currencies can be purchased with various payment methods, including cryptocurrencies. Stake argues that since users do not gamble with actual money, it does not fall under the same licensing requirements as traditional online casinos.
However, critics and legal opponents argue that this model bypasses state laws and creates risk for players. Stake’s size and popularity have drawn added attention. According to its co-founder Ed Craven, “Stake has hit a point now where I’m confident our betting volume is the highest in the world out of any casino, land-based or online.”
Stake claims to be the “World’s Largest Online Casino and Sportsbook,” and in February, the site recorded over 23 million visits. The platform, launched in 2017, has become a leading name in the crypto gambling space.
350% or 5BTC + 150 Spins!
New players only. Exclusive Welcome Bonus of 350% + 150 Free Spins
Legal Pressure Builds Across the US
Illinois is not the only state pushing back against social casinos. Another lawsuit was filed in California last week by a user seeking compensation for losses on Stake. Meanwhile, lawmakers in several states are reviewing or introducing legislation to restrict or ban these platforms.
A bill targeting social casinos recently advanced in the Illinois Senate. Other states like Idaho, Michigan, and Washington have already passed laws against such services. Washington’s rules led to the first major legal decision against a social casino last year when High 5 Games was found liable.
On Tuesday, Delaware’s Gaming Enforcement Division ordered Australia-based VGW Luckyland to stop operations after finding it ran illegal online gaming disguised as sweepstakes.
The post Illinois Lawsuit Targets Stake.US Over Alleged Illegal Gambling Losses appeared first on iGaming.org.