Florida AG Warns Google, Meta And TikTok Over Global Poker Ads

By Sandra Gaweda · September 28, 2026 · 4 min read

Key Points

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sent letters to Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok demanding they confirm by October 23, 2026 that they have stopped advertising unlicensed sweepstakes casinos to Florida residents.
The named brands include Global Poker, a sweepstakes poker room run by Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), alongside Stake, Chumba Casino and LuckyLand.
This escalates a campaign that began with two lawsuits filed August 19, 2026 against Stake and VGW.
Florida has no state-regulated online poker, so the move directly affects how Florida players reach sweepstakes poker.

Florida Puts Big Tech on Notice Over Gambling Ads

Florida’s crackdown on sweepstakes casino ads now targets five major technology platforms: Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok. Attorney General James Uthmeier has put Big Tech on notice, sending letters to Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok that demand written confirmation by October 23, 2026 of the steps each company has taken to stop advertising unlicensed “sweepstakes” casinos to Florida residents. The named brands include Global Poker, a sweepstakes poker room run by Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW). Uthmeier argues that promoting illegal gambling is itself a crime under Florida law. The companies have until October 23 to respond, leaving Florida sweepstakes poker players waiting to see whether the move will affect how these sites advertise.

Florida Sweepstakes Casino Ads Under Scrutiny

By September 25, 2026, Uthmeier had sent letters to five major platforms: Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok. He acted after learning they may be advertising unlicensed sweepstakes casinos to Floridians. According to PlayUSA, the Google letter asks the company to “confirm to me in writing by October 23, 2026, the steps Google has taken to ensure that it is not promoting or otherwise advertising these online ‘sweepstakes’ casinos” to Floridians, adding that “the promotion and advertisement of such illegal gambling in Florida is similarly unlawful under Florida law.”

In a September 25 post on X, Uthmeier said he sent the letters “after learning they may be advertising illegal ‘sweepstakes’ casinos,” and warned that “promoting illegal gambling is a crime.” He added that Big Tech has until October 23 to confirm it has stopped advertising sites like Stake, Chumba, LuckyLand and Global Poker in Florida. As GamblingNews reports, those named brands sit at the center of the demand.

I sent letters to Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap, and TikTok after learning they may be advertising illegal “sweepstakes” casinos.

Promoting illegal gambling is a crime. Big Tech has until October 23 to confirm it has stopped advertising sites like Stake, Chumba, LuckyLand, and… pic.twitter.com/KtQY2TCpR5
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) September 25, 2026

Why Global Poker Is In The Crosshairs

Global Poker is a sweepstakes poker room. It runs on a dual-currency model: players use Gold Coins for standard play, while Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for prizes. Sweepstakes poker operators use this dual-currency structure to distinguish their games from traditional real-money gambling, although Florida’s attorney general argues that the model violates state gambling laws. Chumba Casino, LuckyLand and Global Poker are all run by VGW.

Uthmeier also takes issue with how these sites market their games to players. In August, as reported by Legal Sports Report, he put it plainly: “If it looks like a casino, takes real money like a casino, and pays out like a casino, it is a casino — and it is illegal under Florida law.” As GamblingNews reports, he alleges these platforms lack a Florida gambling license yet offer casino games such as slots, blackjack, roulette and poker, while marketing themselves as free social entertainment and promoting big wins through celebrities and influencers.

How The Campaign Escalated

The letters build on legal action already underway. The campaign began with two lawsuits filed August 19, 2026 in Hillsborough County Circuit Court against Stake and VGW, plus affiliated payment processors, as reported by Legal Sports Report. The complaint against VGW stated the company generated more than $5 billion in revenue in 2025, with $3.7 billion from Chumba Casino alone. It also cited Michael Phelps promoting Global Poker and Ryan Seacrest promoting Chumba.

Florida is not alone in tightening the rules. Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering HB 2801, introduced September 24, 2026, which includes a proposed ban on online sweepstakes games. California went further: its AB 831, signed in 2025, outlaws dual-currency sweepstakes games, including poker, effective January 2026. Our California poker laws guide explains the state’s rules.

What It Means For Florida Players

Florida has no state-regulated online poker, and Hard Rock Bet is its only regulated online sportsbook. Our Florida poker laws guide explains the options available to players. Sweepstakes rooms like Global Poker offer another way for Florida players to access online poker, although their legal status is now under scrutiny.

How Florida’s Ad Crackdown Could Affect Poker Players

If you play sweepstakes poker from Florida, the October 23 deadline is the date to watch. Uthmeier has not shut Global Poker down; he has pressured the platforms that advertise it. Whether Google, Meta, Reddit, Snap and TikTok change how they handle Florida sweepstakes casino ads is still unknown. Florida is now targeting the advertising platforms that promote sweepstakes casinos, not just the operators themselves. For players, the dispute could mean fewer Global Poker ads in Florida, depending on how the companies respond by October 23.

Sandra is a content writer and editor specializing in online poker and iGaming. She covers poker sites, game formats, industry news, and US online poker laws for Legal US Poker Sites.