No dice, gamers say of Apple, Facebook and Google’s defense in social casino litigation

No dice, gamers say of Apple, Facebook and Google’s defense in social casino litigation

Article brief provided by Law Street
  • Christina Tabacco, Law Street
May 2, 2022 10:08 PM
  • Christina Tabacco, Law Street

Last Friday, the consumers taking on Apple, Facebook, and Google in court over their role in the allegedly illegal “social casino enterprise,” earning them billions from online casino chip sales transactions, said that the companies cannot invoke a Section 230 Communications Decency Act (CDA) defense. They opposed dismissal, arguing that the provision does not extend to defendants who facilitate illegal transactions for a fee, even when those transactions flow from third-party content.

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The consolidated suit filed against the three companies in November 2021 alleges that the online platforms support an illegal gambling empire at consumers’ expense. Particular to these kinds of games, “social casinos,” is players’ ability to purchase more playing time or chances with fiat currency, but their inability to win anything other than more chances to play.