A federal judge in California ruled on Sept. 18 that a proposed class action lawsuit against a major online slots influencer and a sweepstakes casino operator can proceed.
The August 2025 lawsuit alleged illegal gambling and addiction-related harm, naming Brian Christopher Misfud, who streams slots gambling to millions of viewers across platforms such as YouTube, and Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), owner of sweepstakes casino platforms such as Chumba Casino.
The high-stakes lawsuit could involve many millions of dollars. It seeks compensatory damages, restitution, disgorgement, statutory damages, statutory penalties, and statutory treble or exemplary damages, with the amounts to be determined.
Arbitration Denied
The defendants sought to compel arbitration, while VGW also asked the court to dismiss the case on jurisdictional grounds.
In the 20-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín denied the defendants’ bid to compel arbitration and rejected VGW’s jurisdictional arguments for dismissal.
The lawsuit alleged significant VGW connections to California, while Misfud allegedly streamed VGW slot games from a Palm Springs studio.
The complaint alleged that Misfud and VGW curated libraries of his videos to “mislead audiences about the likelihood of winning,” emphasizing large wagers and wins while omitting losses.
‘Financial Ruin’
The 2025 lawsuit alleged that “every aspect of the VGW Casinos is carefully curated to create and capitalize upon compulsive, addictive, and destructive behaviors.”
The complaint continued: “The VGW Casinos are especially pernicious and addictive because gamblers can access these casinos 24 hours a day, seven days a week, directly from a mobile phone or computer. Money that would otherwise be used to pay for rents, mortgages, utilities, food, clothing, school supplies, and medical care goes instead to VGW’s illegal casinos. Individuals and families are left in financial ruin.”
GamblingHarm.org could not locate any public statement from VGW or Misfud addressing the lawsuit or the Sept. 18 ruling. Both have contested the allegations through counsel.
Months after the high-powered law firm Susman Godfrey filed the complaint, California enacted legislation prohibiting the dual-currency online sweepstakes casino model targeted by the lawsuit. The law took effect Jan. 1, 2026.
‘Influencer of the Year’
In August, Misfud was named a finalist for “Industry Influencer of the Year” at the 2026 Global Gaming Awards Americas, held in Las Vegas at the start of Global Gaming Expo (G2E) week. He ultimately finished runner-up.
G2E is the American Gaming Association’s flagship industry trade show.
A finalist description of Misfud said he “helped redefine the relationship between casino gaming and digital content” and “played a significant role in bringing slot gaming to new audiences.”
While the AGA did not select him, Misfud was nominated even though the AGA has described sweepstakes casinos as risky for users.
“There are few, if any, responsible gaming tools, no regulatory oversight, and no consumer protections,” Tres York, AGA Vice President of Government Relations, said last year. “It’s a dangerous subterfuge that puts players at real risk.”
Misfud’s nomination for the award mentioned that he is an ambassador for DraftKings Casino, a legal U.S. operator that recently terminated its AGA membership. He is also an ambassador for BetMGM Casino, an AGA member. GamblingHarm.org could not locate instances of Misfud still promoting VGW.
Misfud also streams from brick-and-mortar casinos. On his YouTube channel @BCSlots, which recently hit 1 million subscribers, he promoted an Oct. 8, 2026, stream in which he will wager $1 million over a single day.
Image via @BCSpins on YouTube
