Ryan Seacrest Faces Lawsuit Over Chumba Casino Endorsement in California

Celebrity television host Ryan Seacrest faces a lawsuit accusing him of promoting an illegal online casino in California.

In the lawsuit, California resident Aubrey Carillo claims she lost money on ChumbaCasino.com, a site the American Idol and Wheel of Fortune star promotes regularly through social media.

Lawsuit Details and Allegations Against Seacrest

Carillo argues that by posting paid advertisements and appearing in the online casino’s promotional materials, the American Idol and Wheel of Fortune star is essentially endorsing illegal gambling.

The lawsuit aims to shut down the site’s operations in California and prevent Seacrest from promoting it.

Founded in 2012, Chumba Casino is operated by Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), an Australian company. The site offers over 200 casino-style games, including poker, blackjack, and roulette, and markets itself as the “ultimate playground for funseekers.”

Seacrest and Chumba Casino announced their partnership in December 2023.

In an announcement promoting the partnership, Seacrest said: “Who doesn’t love games? I’m now excited to announce my partnership with Chumba to bring the fun home all year long, making it accessible and easy to all.”

Carillo claims in the lawsuit that Seacrest’s involvement with the site has helped fuel gambling addiction issues among teens and adults. She also alleges her child was able to access the site. 

Online sweepstakes platforms like Chumba Casino allow users to wager with free coins. Users can purchase additional coins with real money and exchange them for cash or prizes. These types of casinos, which are unregulated and not classified as traditional gambling sites, tend to operate in a gray area and have been heavily scrutinized by lawmakers.

Lawmakers Move to Curb Sweepstakes Gambling

Several states are seeking to prevent them from operating.

The Louisiana Senate unanimously passed a bill last week that would ban sweepstakes gambling operators, promoters, and manufacturers. If passed, Louisiana SB 181 would go into effect on Aug. 1.

Connecticut’s bill targeting online sweepstakes, SB 1235, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 37-0 vote. It would make operating an illegal gambling business a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Another unanimous vote saw the New York Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee pass A6745, seeking to ban sweepstakes games. A companion bill, SB 5935, was amended, authorizing the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) to decide what constitutes a “dual-currency system” under the law.

The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) criticized the amendment, claiming it “needlessly threatens” the state’s economy and is merely a “political patch meant to quiet critics without solving the underlying problem.”

On the contrary, proposals in Maryland and Mississippi recently fell short. 

The post Ryan Seacrest Faces Lawsuit Over Chumba Casino Endorsement in California appeared first on CasinoBeats.

 Celebrity television host Ryan Seacrest faces a lawsuit accusing him of promoting an illegal online casino in California. In the lawsuit, California resident Aubrey Carillo claims she lost money on ChumbaCasino.com, a site the American Idol and Wheel of Fortune star promotes regularly through social media. Lawsuit Details and Allegations Against Seacrest Carillo argues that
The post Ryan Seacrest Faces Lawsuit Over Chumba Casino Endorsement in California appeared first on CasinoBeats.