A proposed class action filed on Feb. 3 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio alleges that Stake.us operates an unlawful online casino while presenting itself as a permitted sweepstakes platform. The lawsuit, brought by Ohio resident Brenda Krivatch, seeks damages and court orders on behalf of state players who allegedly lost money using the site.
According to the complaint, Stake.us promotes itself as a “legal sweepstakes,” which the filing says led players to believe the platform was lawful in Ohio. The lawsuit contends that Stake.us lacks the licenses required to offer casino-style gaming in the state and does not list Ohio among jurisdictions where access is restricted.
Stake.us allows users to play slot-style and table games using free credits known as Gold Coins. The complaint centers on a second credit, Stake Cash, which players can redeem for cryptocurrency. The filing describes Stake Cash as a near one-to-one substitute for real money, while Gold Coins primarily serve as a promotional feature.
Users can purchase coin bundles with real money ranging from $20 to $300. The lowest-priced package includes 200,000 Gold Coins and 20.05 Stake Cash. The lawsuit argues that this setup satisfies Ohio’s legal elements of gambling by combining payment, chance-based gameplay, and prizes of monetary value.
Comparison To Earlier Sweepstakes Disputes
The complaint places Stake.us within a broader history of sweepstakes-related enforcement in Ohio. It compares the platform to internet café sweepstakes operations that spread across the state in the early 2010s. Those businesses sold phone or internet time paired with sweepstakes entries and used slot-style machines that awarded cash or equivalent prizes.
Citing Ohio precedent, the lawsuit quotes an appellate court decision stating that “the justice system is not some lumbering oaf who must ignore the patently obvious gambling scheme … simply because of a contrived separation between consideration and the scheme of chance.”
Ohio lawmakers banned cash payouts tied to such sweepstakes in 2013. Some operators attempted to continue by adding skill components, which led the Ohio Casino Control Commission to introduce regulations for skill game parlors in 2018.
Requests Before The Court
The lawsuit also challenges Stake.us terms and conditions, including arbitration clauses and class action waivers. It argues that Ohio law voids contracts connected to gambling losses.
Krivatch seeks a court ruling declaring Stake.us illegal in Ohio, an order stopping its operations in the state, and refunds for player losses. The complaint also requests statutory and punitive damages, restitution, disgorgement, and attorney fees.
Part Of A Wider Legal Campaign
Federal court records show at least nine lawsuits filed against Sweepstakes Limited, the company behind Stake.us, in states including Illinois, California, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, Utah, Virginia, and Ohio. Krivatch has also filed a separate Ohio lawsuit against Social Gaming LLC, operator of Fortune Coins, raising similar claims.
Other complaints name promoters such as Drake and Adin Ross. A Virginia lawsuit filed on Dec. 31 seeks class-action status and at least $5 million in damages. Nationwide, more than 100 class actions now target sweepstakes casinos.
Source:
“Ohio Class Action Labels Stake.us as “Illegal Casino,” Adds to Growing Legal Storm”, gamblinginsider.com. Feb 4, 2026
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