Baltimore sues 6 major online casinos, claims illegal gambling disguised as free games
Baltimore is suing six online casinos for allegedly offering illegal gambling through deceptive 'free' games and targeting vulnerable users.Summary
The city of Baltimore has filed a lawsuit against six major online casinos – Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, McLuck, Pulsz Casino, Stake.us, and Fortune Coins – alleging they operate illegal gambling platforms disguised as free games and sweepstakes. The lawsuit claims these companies violate Baltimore’s Consumer Protection Ordinance by requiring real-money purchases for meaningful play, despite advertising themselves as free-to-play. Furthermore, the city alleges the casinos target minors with cartoonish designs and advertising on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott stated the companies are foreign-owned, unlicensed in Maryland, and designed to be addictive, causing harm to residents.
(Source：CBS News)