A sweepstakes casino lawsuit implicating Google and Apple has been withdrawn by the plaintiff. The plaintiff from New Jersey, Julian Bargo, went against the High 5 Casino, while including Google and Apple.
Now, the case has been completely canceled. According to reports, no reason has been given as to why. However, it did get dismissed just as the court was supposed to hear reasons for dismissal. Bargo claims that he lost over $1000 in bets.
Sweepstake casinos in brief
Sweepstake casinos operate differently from regular online casinos, instead offering two currencies to play with. These are bought in bundles of “gold coins”, which then give “sweep coins”.
The “gold coins” bought can be used for no-risk gambling, while the “sweep coins” are used for prizes. Bargo’s lawsuit said that these sweepstake casinos are illegal.
Plaintiff offers no explanation for pulling lawsuit
Where Apple and Google are implicated is through the RICO Act. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act has often been used against criminal enterprises since being introduced in 1970.
As we reported last year, Bargo claimed through the RICO act that they were essentially aiding and abetting the platforms. It also claims that they unlawfully profit from these casinos’ activity.
While it’s not known why the suit was withdrawn, it can be assumed that implicating Google and Apple in the case made things far tougher. Bargo might have lost 1000 dollars or more through these sweepstakes casinos, but trying to drag major tech companies into the fight would have caused the lawsuit’s costs to skyrocket.
Sweepstake casinos are currently the hot-button issue in the US. Maryland, New Jersey, and other states in the country have moved to ban sweepstakes casinos. One Democrat originally pitched a method of regulating them, but reintroduced the bill to straight-up ban them.
