Man Sues Modo Casino, Claiming Exploitation of His Disability and Gambling Problem

(AsiaGameHub) –   Matthew Joyce of California has initiated legal action against Modo Casino, an online sweepstakes platform operated by ARB Interactive, accusing the company of predatory conduct that capitalized on his disability.

Joyce Files Lawsuit Against Modo Casino

According to the lawsuit, Joyce gambled frequently on the Modo Casino site between September 2024 and April 2025. He claims that throughout this time, he suffered from a nine-month documented psychotic episode, which involved a delusion that he was destined to take on the platform’s financial losses to allow other users to win.

The legal filing further indicates that Joyce has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder featuring psychotic symptoms, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and dissociation. He also admits to a gambling addiction, a condition classified as a disability by both California statute and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The complaint asserts that Joyce communicated this delusion directly to ARB employees, even insisting they formally “crown” him—a demand that representatives reportedly dismissed as humorous. The filing adds that his delusional state also manifested in assertions concerning time travel and an ability to overcome the site’s random number generator.

It is also alleged that Modo Casino singled out Joyce during his psychotic episodes by elevating him to its top VIP level and providing gifts, incentives, and promotions aimed at fostering compulsive gambling behavior. Joyce further contends that a Modo Casino VIP host assigned to his account actively bolstered his psychotic condition. The legal document states that this employee began using Joyce’s self-proclaimed title of “Modo’s Martyr” in correspondence, even referring to him by the initials “MM” in messages.

How Much Money Did the Plaintiff Lose at the Casino?

Data from Joyce’s account reveals he was active for 5,631 hours on the sweepstakes casino website, averaging close to 14 hours daily. In a bid to curb his gambling, he requested that his VIP host remove his Black Diamond status to reduce the benefits he received, but this appeal was allegedly denied on multiple occasions. His total losses reached approximately $240,000. Subsequently, ARB provided him with a 1099 tax form declaring $61,000 in winnings, which the casino filed with the Internal Revenue Service.

The legal action also challenges the casino’s payout system, pointing out that Joyce’s return-to-player (RTP) percentage was roughly 47%, significantly lower than the promoted range of 84% to 95%.

Joyce’s legal team is pursuing over $1.6 million in compensatory and statutory damages, claiming that ARB exploited his well-documented disabilities.

In unrelated news about sweepstakes casinos like Modo, proposed legislation in Washington, D.C. aims to significantly restrict their activities by empowering the Office of Lottery and Gaming with greater regulatory control.