Illinois Attorney Uses 1710 Law to Target Sweepstakes, DFS Operators

Illinois ‘Bounty Hunter’ Uses 1710 Law Against Sweepstakes, DFS Operators

An Illinois attorney is invoking a centuries-old law that lets gamblers recover losses from illegal gambling operations to go after sweepstakes and daily fantasy sports companies he says are offering disguised sports betting.

The lawsuit targets operators accused of running unlicensed sports-betting platforms under sweepstakes and DFS formats, raising the legal and regulatory stakes for similar products across multiple US states.

State of Play

Illinois attorney Mark T. Lavery, known as a gambling statute “bounty hunter,” has filed a federal lawsuit targeting three operators accused of disguised sports betting under sweepstakes and daily fantasy sports formats.
This action highlights growing regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges facing unlicensed sports wagering products affecting bettors across multiple US states.

Lawsuit Targets Alleged Disguised Sports Betting Platforms

Attorney Mark T. Lavery filed a federal lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Third Planet Media (Props.com), Novig, and Dabble Sports, accusing them of operating unlicensed sports-betting platforms disguised as sweepstakes casinos or daily fantasy sports.

The complaint details how these platforms allow Illinois and other state residents to place real-money wagers masked as sweepstakes entries or no-purchase-necessary coins, with picks and props resolved on real sports outcomes and redeemable prizes akin to cash.

Lavery seeks recovery of gambling losses through the 1710 Statute of Anne, treble damages, attorney fees, a permanent injunction, and judicial declarations against these operators as illegal gambling enterprises.

Players Can Recover Gambling Losses From Illegal Operations

Players can recover gambling losses from illegal operations

This lawsuit signals increased enforcement risks against platforms using disguised sports wagering methods without proper licensing. Operators of sweepstakes and prop-style daily fantasy sports may face costly legal battles, injunctions, and loss-recovery claims.

Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and other states’ application of the 1710 Statute of Anne enables players to recover illegal gambling losses, creating a financial and operational threat to platforms exploiting regulatory loopholes.

This trend coincides with broader state crackdowns on daily fantasy sports formats and prop betting products. The case may spur further legal scrutiny and regulatory reforms around disguised sports betting models nationwide.