California Man Sues Ryan Seacrest over Online Casino Promos
American TV presenter and film producer Ryan Seacrest has been sued for promoting an online casino on social media.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Seacrest is facing a lawsuit from Aubrey Carillo, a California resident who alleged that Seacrest's promotion of Chumba Casino has caused him significant financial losses.
According to Carillo, Chumba Casino's operations in California are unlawful since it has been banned in several states. Last month, Virtual Gaming Worlds, the parent company of Chumba Casino was ordered to cease operations in Maryland. This follows similar directives from Connecticut and Mississippi.
Chumba claims that Seacrest is running afoul of the law by promoting illegal gambling through paid social media ads for Chumba Casino and featuring in promotional materials on the site.
One post from September 2024 shows Seacrest seemingly playing a game on his phone while lounging with his dog and suddenly looking thrilled.
"One more game of @chumba.casino, and then we'll go for a walk, Georgia," He captioned the photo, tagging his dog in the post.
The promo also featured a disclaimer: 'Sponsored by Chumba Casino. No Purchase Necessary. VGW Group. Void where prohibited by law. See T&Cs. 18+.’
He also appears in several playful posts on Chumba Casino's Instagram page. One festive post featured Seacrest with hot cocoa, talking up the excitement of playing social games at Chumba Casino.
The company captioned the video, 'We're always happy to bring you fresh new games at ChumbaCasino.com. Let us know which games are at the top of your nice list this Christmas.'
Carillo alleges that Seacrest's actions contribute to increased online gambling addiction among both adults and minors, with one child in his family accessing the site.
The lawsuit demands that the website be shut down in California and that Seacrest stop receiving payments from the online casino.
More Regulation News
Chumba Casino Fights Back
Responding to the development, Chumba Casino said the claims are baseless and will be contested.
This lawsuit has no merit, and Chumba will vigorously defend its legal right to operate its business. Our brand ambassador, Ryan Seacrest, is not involved in the operation of Chumba's business, and it is unfortunate that he has been unfairly targeted as part of this suit.
RELATED TOPICS: Regulation
Latest News
Most Read
Must Read
Interviews
Sweepstakes Casinos: Thriving in an Ever-Changing Industry – Interview with Attorney Stephen C. Piepgrass
Feb 17, 2025
Interviews
Review this New Post
Leave a Comment
User Comments
Comments for California Man Sues Ryan Seacrest over Online Casino Promos