A woman has filed a suit against the parent of iGaming sites that include Chumba Casino, claiming it is breaking Georgia’s gambling laws. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Class action suit

A plaintiff from Georgia has filed a class action lawsuit accused against the Perth, Australia-based Virtual Gaming Worlds holding brand, VGW Holdings.

illegally operating and marketing its iGaming websites

According to the suit, Destiny Kennedy accuses the interactive entertainment giant of illegally operating and marketing its iGaming websites within the state of Georgia. Filed before the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on May 17, Kennedy’s suit claims that she lost approximately $1,150 “playing the casino games of chance” via websites owned by VGW.

The websites under scrutiny are VGW’s Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker. VGW has still to file its response to Kennedy’s suit.

Claims of false advertising

Kennedy has insisted on a jury trial and requests monetary relief for herself and a class of fellow state gamblers who also lost money on the sites.

The plaintiff alleges that while the three sites named in the suit don’t offer wagers using cash, the VGW brands still fall foul of Georgia’s gambling laws on games of chance and casino games.

alleges illegal gambling still takes place because players purchase virtual currency

Kennedy claims VGW misrepresents its product with advertising that says the social casinos are “just for fun gameplay”. According to Sportscasting, she alleges illegal gambling still takes place because players purchase virtual currency with cash and therefore “wager and lose real money” every game they play.

“VGW proactively defrauds Georgia citizens because VGW advertises that its operations are legitimate and legal when, in reality, VGW knowingly and willfully operates what constitutes an illegal gambling enterprise,” Sportscasting cited the lawsuit as stating.

Facing another hit

Kennedy’s suit accuses VGW of violating Georgia Code § 13-8-3 in a state where, until possibly 2025, sports betting, poker games, and iGaming remain illegal.

VGW will, no doubt, be hoping it gets off more lightly in Georgia than it did in Kentucky in 2022. VGW faced another class action suit over its social casino brand LuckyLand in the US Circuit Court of Kentucky, a case the Aussie firm eventually settled for over $11m.