Around the USA, including the state of Washington, social casino applications have been declared unlawful. Nonetheless, these applications persist in generating billions in annual revenue. Typically offered at no cost, these apps deliver a gaming experience akin to traditional casino-style gambling. However, while social casino apps do not offer cash prizes, users have the opportunity to spend real currency to extend their game play with virtual tokens.
In November, a resident of Nevada, with legal representation provided by Edelson PC, lodged a legal complaint against online retail giant and cloud service provider, Amazon, in relation to social casino apps. The lawsuit asserts that the company amassed earnings well over billions through the operation of an “illicit internet gambling business,” featuring social casinos that render entertainment paralleling casino gambling. As per an announcement by Reuters, Amazon is currently contesting the lawsuit, petitioning a Seattle judge to suspend the lawsuit proceedings.
The attorneys representing the foremost online retailer are pushing for the lawsuit, targeting social casino apps, to be put on hiatus until the results of similar cases against such tech giants as Facebook, Apple, and Google are resolved in the US appeals court. As per recent reports, it is expected that these cases may gain momentum in April or May, with decisions projected by the end of 2024.
Furthermore, Amazon’s legal team has drawn attention to an existing law in the US that shields online platforms from accusations and litigation stemming from content provided by third-party entities. The aforementioned law is Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which states: “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”
Social Casino Apps Provide Casino-Like Entertainment
The lawsuit lodged against Amazon constitutes the eighth such legal action undertaken by the well-known law firm Edelson. The company specialises in class action and mass litigation. In the lawsuit against Amazon, Edelson represents client Steven Horn. The legal proceedings accuse Amazon of “owning and running an app store where users can partake in Vegas-Style social casino apps on their mobile devices.”
Besides, the lawsuit underscored the burgeoning popularity of social casino apps. The legal document states that social casino apps can be accessed via internet browsers, tablet devices and smartphones, thus offering customers a gaming experience akin to slot gambling anytime and anywhere.
