Baltimore City Sues 6 Online Casino Firms Over Youth-Targeted Ads

Lawsuit alleges companies used colorful, cartoonish social media ads to attract underage players.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Baltimore City has filed a lawsuit against six online casino companies, alleging they are using colorful and cartoonish advertising on social media to target young people. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency stated these online platforms contain elements of gambling but are not legally authorized in the state, which only permits casino gambling at six licensed brick-and-mortar facilities.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights growing concerns over the accessibility of online gambling, especially for minors, and the need for stricter regulations and enforcement around age verification and licensing requirements for online casino operators.

The details

The lawsuit accuses the six unnamed online casino companies of not having proper age verification measures in place and operating without licenses in the state of Maryland. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency said these online platforms, while containing gambling elements like chance and prize, are not legally authorized in the state.

  • The lawsuit was filed on March 6, 2026.

The players

Baltimore City

The city government of Baltimore, Maryland, which has filed the lawsuit against the online casino firms.

Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency

The state agency that oversees and regulates gambling activities in Maryland, stating that the online casino platforms are not legally authorized in the state.

Six unnamed online casino companies

The defendants in the lawsuit, which are accused of targeting young people with colorful, cartoonish social media ads for their online gambling platforms that are not licensed in Maryland.

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What’s next

The lawsuit will proceed through the court system, with the judge expected to rule on the city's allegations and potential penalties for the online casino firms.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing challenges cities and states face in regulating the rapidly evolving online gambling industry and protecting vulnerable populations, especially minors, from predatory marketing and illegal gambling activities.