A fresh federal class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple and Google, accusing the tech behemoths of enabling illegal online gambling through sweepstakes casino applications. The case, Bargo et al v. Pratt et al, invokes the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, suggesting a pattern of unlawful behavior.
The plaintiffs assert that Apple and Google have played a crucial role in promoting and benefiting from unlawful gambling activities. The lawsuit contends that both companies distribute, process payments for, and advertise digital casino games that allegedly violate state gambling laws.
This lawsuit marks the third attempt by plaintiffs Julio Bargo and Lamar Prater to hold these parties accountable for financial losses allegedly incurred through engagement with sweepstakes casino platforms. Rebecca Platt has joined as an additional plaintiff in this latest legal action.
Unlike previous cases that included sweepstakes operators as defendants, the current lawsuit targets only Apple and Google. The plaintiffs aim to recover monetary losses on behalf of a nationwide class of players who interacted with sweepstakes casino applications or websites through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
The complaint outlines four primary forms of misconduct:
1. Distribution of illegal sweepstakes casino apps
2. Taking a significant share of in-app purchases
3. Facilitating payments between users and operators
4. Employing targeted advertising strategies
The lawsuit alleges that Apple and Google provide sweepstakes casino developers with marketing tools, data analytics, and user behavior monitoring systems. These resources allegedly help optimize engagement and maximize user spending.
The plaintiffs argue that Apple and Google’s involvement is crucial to the success of what they term the “Sweepstakes Casino Enterprise.” The complaint suggests that the tech companies’ distribution, advertising, and payment processing services are integral to the operation of these allegedly illegal gambling platforms.
The lawsuit seeks class certification and restitution for users who made purchases in sweepstakes casino apps accessed through Apple or Google platforms. This legal action represents a broader challenge to the role of major tech platforms in the online gambling landscape.
Source: Casinorank.com
