Florida AG Wants Ads for Sweepstakes Casinos Banned on Social Media

Ads for sweepstakes casinos are common on social media sites across the country. But in Florida’s boundaries, attorney general James Uthmeier wants to see them gone.

Uthmeier announced on his social media pages that he had sent letters to Google, Meta, TikTok, Reddit and Snap. In each letter, he stated that his office had filed lawsuits against sweepstakes casinos in Florida, attempting to drive them out of the state. He further stated that he wanted each social media site to outline the steps they had taken to remove social casino ads from appearing in Florida.

Uthmeier’s office has given the sites until Oct. 23 to provide reassurance in writing that each site is not promoting sweeps casinos in Florida. It’s not clear what legal steps he plans to take beyond that date if the response does not arrive.

Does This Stance Against Sweepstakes Casinos in Florida Hold Real Force?

It’s not completely clear. Uthmeier has a history of attempting to force multi-state businesses to capitulate to Florida’s regulations, often without legal force. In May, Uthmeier attempted to get the NFL to abandon its long-held Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least two minority candidates from outside their own organization to fill a role. Uthmeier claimed that violated Florida’s labor laws, and that dispute has seen no updates since then.

While Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against sweepstakes casinos, no court has enforced any of his claims. Sweepstakes casinos remain operational and technically legal in the Sunshine State, even as his office attempts to drive them out.

The efforts of the letter seem to be aimed more at preemptive compliance. If Uthmeier can get the social media companies to stop accepting social casinos’ dollars, that could lead the providers to essentially become irrelevant in Florida.

What Is The Reason to Pursue This Lawsuit?

One of the main reasons might be Uthmeier’s own campaign to retain his office. Uthmeier wasn’t elected as Florida’s attorney general and has never run a campaign of his own before. He got the job in 2025, when President Donald Trump appointed then-Senator Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State.

To replace Rubio, Florida governor Ron DeSantis chose his attorney general, Ashley Moody. In turn, that opened her seat for Uthmeier, who had been DeSantis’ chief of staff. With Uthmeier never having faced Florida voters and the state looking more competitive than in past years, he faces a real challenge from Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, a former assistant secretary of labor under President Joe Biden, has run for office four times and won three of them. With just over a month until the election, 15 percent of voters say they are undecided. That means both candidates must increase name identification among Florida voters. Going after sweepstakes casinos, as many states have, seems a safe way for Uthmeier to try to do that.

Another reason is to protect the interests of the Florida Seminole Tribe. Currently, the Seminoles have a monopoly on legal gambling in the state. Sweepstakes casinos can undercut that, which has caused the tribe’s opposition.

What Dates Matter?

The most important date is Uthmeier’s determined date of Oct. 23. If that date passes without action, this won’t be resolved before the election. Uthmeier would have to win an injunction forcing the social media sites to stop advertising in Florida. As he’d need to show harm and likelihood to prevail, that’s a high standard.

The next important date is Nov. 3, the day of the election. Florida counts mail-in ballots first, and this race will likely be one of the first ones with enough data for a call. If Rodriguez wins, the lawsuit likely becomes null and void. If Uthmeier holds his seat, it wouldn’t be surprising to see sweepstakes casinos start to consider leaving Florida.