Same Story; Different Case
The lawsuit involving Saulny is similar to other cases faced by VGW. She is suing based on the Mississippi Code, which allows a person to recover wagers lost from illegal gambling operations. The claim was originally filed in the Circuit Court of Hinds County, and VGW was able to move it to the US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
The operators continue to fight to move cases to the federal level as they try to resolve multiple disputes. The goal is to win the case, of course, but avoid having to pay millions of dollars back to players based on supposed ‘losses’ that could occur from a state case negative outcome.
Continued Legal Troubles
It seems that as soon as the first case was filed against VGW, other states began filing similar complaints based on local gambling laws. The filing in Mississippi is the 11th federal case for VGW and only further scrutinizes the brand.
In most cases, the suppliers of such services are being sued based on the same state laws regarding historic losses. So far, the most advanced case against VGW is the one in Florida. It includes an amended complaint that names Worldpay, a payment company, as a defendant.
The filing claims that Worldpay aided and abetted VGW’s gambling business by acting as a payment processor. The Knapp v VGW and Worldpay case is currently being fought in Florida’s federal courts. It is very detailed and further along than other cases, so if it settles, the outcome could set a precedent for all the other cases VGW is currently facing.
Cease-and-Desist; Investigation Needed
Along with mounting legal cases, VGW is under pressure from officials in select states to stop offering services. Michigan and Connecticut made the list as areas where cease-and-desist letters were sent to alert VGW to stop offering services via brands like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.
In addition, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has criticized the operator, stating that officials need to review the services to ensure brands are in compliance with state laws. Unfortunately, a push against sweepstakes sites is gaining ground, and it would not be surprising to find even more cases filed in the future or complaints against the brand as others jump on the current bandwagon.
