PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Trending Now: An IP Podcast - Sweepstakes and Contests
We have seen dramatic evolution across the gaming industry throughout 2025. There have been noteworthy legal and regulatory developments for lottery couriers, prediction markets, sweepstakes casinos, and sports betting...more
“It’s just a giveaway. What could go wrong?” You’d be surprised. A fun marketing initiative can quickly become a legal headache. Behind every good sweepstakes is a legal minefield—one that many brands don’t recognize...more
Here are curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US: • Connecticut Law Aims to Weed Out Illegal Sales of...more
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) vetoed legislation that would have banned websites from conducting sweepstakes games that some say violate online gambling laws. Senate Bill 181, which was passed by the Louisiana State...more
New York AG Letitia James sent cease-and-desist letters to 26 online sweepstakes casino platforms alleging that they engage in prohibited gambling activity. In the letters, the AG demands that the virtual “sweepstakes...more
Maine’s Gambling Control Unit (GCU) has issued a formal warning regarding the proliferation of illegal interactive gaming (“iGaming”) platforms operating within the state. The warning emphasized that while certain forms of...more
We have previously posted on some of the recent legal issues with social casino sweepstakes. See Social Casino Sweepstakes Model is Under Fire – What Game Companies, Payment Processors and App Stores Need to Know. Various...more
Recent events around the country indicate that online sweepstakes are facing increasing scrutiny and concerns from legislatures, regulators and others. “Montana just criminalized everyday digital promotions with a law so...more
Earlier this week, Coinbase and its sweepstakes administrator agreed to the terms of a class action settlement in the matter of Suski v. Coinbase, Inc. After nearly four years of litigation, including a trip to the United...more
Legal sweepstakes are an effective means for brands to attract consumer attention and interaction through the allure of possible prize winnings. Some sweepstakes operators, however, have attempted to create business models...more
Sweepstakes casinos have become a force in online gaming, offering casino-style games without navigating the complex regulatory scrutiny of gaming regulators or legislators. Sweepstakes casinos use creative business models,...more
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission sent more than $18 million in refunds to U.S. consumers who entered a Publishers Clearing House (PCH) sweepstakes in recent years. The refund represents a significant remedy to...more
Earlier this month, members of the New York State Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee unanimously voted to advance bill S5935, which, if signed into law, would (a) forbid the operation and promotion of certain online...more
We recently wrote about the flurry of legal issues with the social casino sweepstakes model. Now, the New York State Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee passed S5935, a bill that, if fully approved and enacted,...more
With March Madness approaching, some employers may wish to get in on the action by sponsoring bracket pools to boost employee camaraderie or strengthen relationships with customers or clients. ...more
Social casino games remain incredibly popular and profitable. This success has drawn attacks from plaintiffs’ class action lawyers in the form of gambling loss recovery lawsuits and other consumer-based actions. Some have...more
The culmination of every successful sweepstakes promotion involves the picking of a winner, or multiple winners, as applicable. Winner selection also provides the sweepstakes operator with the opportunity to generate positive...more
Join 100+ cross-industry advertising practitioners for comprehensive panel discussions, practical case studies and valuable insights on how to successfully navigate today’s new era of advertising at ACI's 8th Annual Legal,...more
Social media can be a powerful business tool to connect with customers, but improperly managing your social media platforms can lead to costly mistakes, PR nightmares, and even legal troubles. Whether you’re a small business...more
As a whirlwind 2024 draws to a close, we here at BakerHostetler are reflecting on the promotions trends we’ve seen this year and what we predict you will see more of in 2025. Below, we pinpoint those trends and share some...more
Earlier this year, Coinbase ran a Bitcoin sweepstakes promotion offering the chance to win one of six prizes, with the top two prizes amounting to the equivalent of $1,000 USD in Bitcoin (along with merchandise and event...more
Last month, Philadelphia’s District Attorney sued Elon Musk over his political action committee’s sweepstakes to award a $1 million daily prize to swing-state voters who pledged to support the Constitution, alleging that the...more
In today’s digital marketing landscape, brands frequently leverage promotions like sweepstakes and contests to engage consumers, build brand loyalty, and expand their audiences. While both are popular strategies, the legal...more
Elon Musk's Surprising Defense to $1MM Election Giveaway - In a stunning argument to the PA Attorney General’s claim that Elon Musk’s $1MM Election Giveaway is an illegal lottery, yesterday Musk’s lawyer’s argued that it...more
Earlier this week, Philadelphia’s District Attorney sued Elon Musk over his political action committee’s sweepstakes to award a $1 million daily prize to swing-state voters who pledge to support the Constitution. The lawsuit...more