A lawsuit accusing Apple, Google, and sweepstakes casino High 5 Casino of facilitating illegal gambling has been voluntarily withdrawn by the plaintiff, Julian Bargo. The case, which had been making its way through the New Jersey District Court since November, was dismissed without prejudice, meaning Bargo retains the right to refile at a later date.
Bargo claimed he lost over $1,000 on sweepstakes casino platforms, including High 5 Casino and WowVegas, arguing that these sites effectively operated as illegal gambling enterprises. He further alleged that Apple and Google were complicit by listing these apps in their digital stores and processing payments, violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act.
The lawsuit had gained traction due to its implications for the broader online gambling industry and the potential liability of tech giants in facilitating these operations. However, before the defendants could file their motions to dismiss, Bargo unexpectedly withdrew his case. No official reason was provided for the voluntary dismissal.
The withdrawal of this lawsuit comes shortly after a separate legal ruling dealt a significant blow to High 5 Casino. In a class-action lawsuit in Washington state, a federal court determined that High 5 Casino was operating as an illegal gambling platform. The company was ordered to pay nearly $25 million in damages to players who had lost money on the site, with $17.7 million reflecting player losses and an additional $7.2 million in penalties under the state’s Consumer Protection Act.
Washington has some of the strictest laws on online gambling in the United States, and the ruling has put further pressure on sweepstakes casinos operating in a legal grey area. Following the decision, attorneys representing plaintiffs signalled that major tech companies like Apple and Google could be next in line for legal scrutiny.
The involvement of big tech in such cases is drawing more attention from regulators and lawmakers. Critics argue that by listing sweepstakes casino apps and processing payments, these companies are enabling a form of gambling that lacks the oversight and consumer protections of regulated casinos.
Attorney Todd Logan, who represented the plaintiffs in the Washington case, has called for greater accountability from tech companies. “Big Tech isn’t just standing by—they’re cashing in,” Logan told the press. “Some of our clients lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to their gambling addictions here, and Big Tech cannot be allowed to continue to profit off of these devastating addictions.”
Despite the dismissal of Bargo’s lawsuit, legal and regulatory battles surrounding sweepstakes casinos are far from over. Lawmakers in states like New Jersey, Mississippi, and Maryland have proposed stricter regulations or outright bans on these platforms, citing concerns about unregulated gambling, tax evasion, and consumer protection.
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