In a sweeping crackdown aimed at protecting consumers, the Tennessee Attorney General's Office has put the kibosh on numerous illegal online sweepstakes casinos believed to have been operating within the state. A statement from Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti cited concerns over the predatory nature of these online platforms and their circumvention of regulation and oversight meant to ensure fairness in gambling.
These online casinos offered traditional gambling experiences like slots and table games while using a dual-currency system, which, according to the Attorney General's Office, was a roundabout way of facilitating real-money gambling. This model allegedly ran afoul of the Tennessee Constitution's prohibition against lotteries and state gambling statutes. In a decisive move, nearly forty of such sites received cease-and-desist letters from Skrmetti's office, with compliance already in motion or promised shortly, as reported by the Tennessee Attorney General's office.
Highlighting the deceptive allure of these websites, Attorney General Skrmetti was quoted as saying, "The only thing you can be sure about with an online sweepstakes casino is that it's going to take your money. They work hard to make these sweepstakes casinos look legitimate, but at the end of the day they are not. They avoid any oversight that could ensure honesty or fairness. Our Office was glad to chase these shady operations out of Tennessee and will keep working to protect Tennesseans from illegal gambling." The cease-and-desist action has led to the disabled functionality or imminent shutdown of the illegal components of the affected websites, according to the news release.
The action is part of a broader national effort to address online platforms accused of exploiting legal loopholes to offer unregulated gambling. Tennessee’s Attorney General has moved against several online sweepstakes casinos, warning operators that illegal gambling will not be tolerated in the state. Authorities released a list of affected platforms, including Chumba, Luckyland, and High 5 Casino, among others, reflecting what officials described as a comprehensive enforcement approach. State officials also reminded the public that individuals experiencing gambling-related problems can seek help through the Tennessee REDLINE or the Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services.
