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Tennessee’s Attorney General said that the state’s sustained efforts to shut down online Sweepstakes Casinos were successful after almost 40 sites were hit with cease-and-desist letters.
Jonathan Skrmetti’s office announced on Dec. 29 that it “successfully halted” the operation of 38 online sweeps casinos that were using a dual-currency system of play to allow players to engage in real-money gambling, which it said constituted an illegal lottery prohibited by the Tennessee Constitution and in violation of state gambling and consumer-protection laws.
“The only thing you can be sure about with an online sweepstakes casino is that it’s going to take your money,” said Skrmetti. “They work hard to make these Sweepstakes Casinos look legitimate, but at the end of the day they are not. They avoid any oversight that could ensure honesty or fairness.”
The AG’s office said that after it turned up the heat, every recipient agreed to comply and either disabled the unlawful components of their platforms or agreed on a date on which to do so. The notice did not divulge the length of time over which it sent the C&Ds, but noted that the enforcement was part of the AG’s ongoing effort to protect Tennessee consumers from “predatory and unregulated gambling operations.”
Several of the operators listed had already shut down or confirmed plans to scale back in Tennessee prior to the Dec. 29 announcement. Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker owner VGW told SBC Americas in late November that it would cease Sweeps Coin gameplay on all three sites in the state. The likes of High 5 Casino and Stake.us also informed their customers in Tennessee that they would stop offering such games.
“Our Office was glad to chase these shady operations out of Tennessee and will keep working to protect Tennesseans from illegal gambling,” added the Dec. 29 AG’s office statement. “Other Sweepstakes Casinos currently operating in Tennessee or contemplating entering the Tennessee marketplace should consider themselves on notice that illegal gambling will not be tolerated,.”
Tennessee’s Attorney General said that the state’s sustained efforts to shut down online Sweepstakes Casinos were successful after almost 40 sites were hit with cease-and-desist letters.
Jonathan Skrmetti’s office announced on Dec. 29 that it “successfully halted” the operation of 38 online sweeps casinos that were using a dual-currency system of play to allow players to engage in real-money gambling, which it said constituted an illegal lottery prohibited by the Tennessee Constitution and in violation of state gambling and consumer-protection laws.
“The only thing you can be sure about with an online sweepstakes casino is that it’s going to take your money,” said Skrmetti. “They work hard to make these Sweepstakes Casinos look legitimate, but at the end of the day they are not. They avoid any oversight that could ensure honesty or fairness.”
Some sweeps sites had already left
The office listed 38 platforms as recipients of C&Ds over an undisclosed period of time,The AG’s office said that after it turned up the heat, every recipient agreed to comply and either disabled the unlawful components of their platforms or agreed on a date on which to do so. The notice did not divulge the length of time over which it sent the C&Ds, but noted that the enforcement was part of the AG’s ongoing effort to protect Tennessee consumers from “predatory and unregulated gambling operations.”
Several of the operators listed had already shut down or confirmed plans to scale back in Tennessee prior to the Dec. 29 announcement. Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Global Poker owner VGW told SBC Americas in late November that it would cease Sweeps Coin gameplay on all three sites in the state. The likes of High 5 Casino and Stake.us also informed their customers in Tennessee that they would stop offering such games.
“Our Office was glad to chase these shady operations out of Tennessee and will keep working to protect Tennesseans from illegal gambling,” added the Dec. 29 AG’s office statement. “Other Sweepstakes Casinos currently operating in Tennessee or contemplating entering the Tennessee marketplace should consider themselves on notice that illegal gambling will not be tolerated,.”
