Contemplating a Collective Legal Action against WOW Vegas by a Resident of Illinois
In a significant legal development, MW Services Ltd., the operator of WOW Vegas, is facing a class action lawsuit for allegedly violating Illinois gambling laws. The lawsuit, filed on July 27, 2025, was initiated by Richard Janvrin, a seasoned journalist with a career spanning over a decade.
Janvrin, who started his professional journey in sports coverage in 2015 and graduated from the University of New Hampshire, entered the iGaming space in 2018. He has since covered various aspects of the industry, including news, reviews, bonuses/promotions, sweepstakes casinos, and legal matters.
The lawsuit alleges that WOW Vegas, disguised as a "social casino" with "free-play" games, operates an unlicensed and illegal online casino in Illinois. The platform allegedly offers casino-style games involving real-money wagering through virtual currencies—WOW Coins (not redeemable for real money) and Sweeps Coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes and gift cards. This practice, it is argued, constitutes illegal internet gambling under Illinois law prohibiting online gambling on games of chance.
Marlena Wieseman, an Illinois resident, is seeking a refund of her $10,000 in losses from WOW Vegas and class-action certification. The lawsuit also claims that WOW Vegas employs a misleading dual-currency model to facilitate illegal online gambling.
The lawsuit aims to nullify WOW Vegas' arbitration clauses, a common practice among online gambling platforms. Although MW Services is named as defendant in this lawsuit, other related lawsuits have involved multiple parties, including platform providers like Apple and Google. However, the Illinois lawsuit is specifically targeting MW Services’ operations within that state.
The lawsuit was filed under legal jurisdiction, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the iGaming industry, particularly in states with strict gambling laws. As the case progresses, it will be interesting to see how MW Services responds and whether the allegations against WOW Vegas are substantiated.
In the midst of this legal dispute, it might be relevant to raise concerns about WOW Vegas' welcome bonus, offered to players upon signing up at their online casino. Additionally, this case could potentially set a precedent for online poker platforms and sports betting sites, as it challenges the legality of operating casino-style games with real-money wagering under the guise of free-play games, as allegedly done by WOW Vegas, thereby affecting the broader casino-and-gambling industry.
