TV host Ryan Seacrest is facing legal trouble in California over his ties to Chumba Casino, a sweepstakes-based online gambling site. A new lawsuit claims Seacrest is helping promote illegal gambling through his endorsement of the site. The case also targets VGW Holdings, the Australian company behind Chumba Casino and other similar platforms.
Good to know
- Sweepstakes casinos like Chumba let players use virtual coins, but users can also spend real money to buy more.
- Some states are passing laws to shut down unlicensed sweepstakes gambling.
- VGW also runs Luckyland Slots and Global Poker, which operate under the same sweepstakes model.
California resident Aubrey Carillo filed the lawsuit in Riverside County, accusing Seacrest of pushing an illegal online gambling operation. The complaint says Seacrest promotes Chumba Casino in social media posts and on the site itself. Carillo is asking the court to ban the site from operating in California and to stop Seacrest from earning money through the partnership.
According to the lawsuit, “Seacrest has a reported net worth of $450M and has had estates or penthouses in Beverly Hills, Napa Valley, Bel-Air & Manhattan. Someone this blessed in life does not need to hurt people for more money, but Seacrest does just that by serving as the official celebrity endorser.”
Chumba Casino operates on a sweepstakes model that uses free virtual currency. However, users can also purchase extra coins with real money or crypto, which can be exchanged for cash prizes. Critics say this structure mimics traditional online gambling while avoiding regulation.
In March, California saw another lawsuit targeting Stake, a similar sweeps-based gambling operator. Other states are also moving to crack down. Louisiana’s Senate just approved a bill to outlaw these casinos, and similar proposals are underway in Nevada, New York, and Connecticut.
VGW, the company behind Chumba, Luckyland, and Global Poker, has become a focus for lawmakers trying to control unlicensed gambling. As more legal pressure builds, celebrity endorsements like Seacrest’s may come under more fire.
When he first announced the partnership, Seacrest said, “Who doesn’t love games? I’m now excited to announce my partnership with Chumba to bring the fun home all year long, making it accessible and easy to all.”
So far, Seacrest has not made a public comment about the lawsuit.
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