Sweepstakes Casino Accused of Exploiting Man With Disabilities Who Took Out Loans to Gamble
Posted on: April 15, 2026, 01:50h.
Last updated on: April 15, 2026, 01:50h.
- Modo Casino is accused of targeting a player with a documented disability
- The plaintiff claims he had a psychosis in which he believed he was destined to lose so others could win
A plaintiff in California alleges in a federal lawsuit that a prominent sweepstakes casino operator utilized predatory practices and engaged in fraudulent activities in violation of state and federal laws.
Matthew Joyce says in his complaint that he suffers from bipolar disorder with psychotic features, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and dissociation. He also concedes he suffers from a gambling disorder, which is recognized as a disability under California law and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Joyce says that between September 2024 and April 2025, he repeatedly gambled on the Modo Casino platform, an online sweepstakes casino run by ARB Interactive, which is headquartered in Arizona but allows its online casinos to be accessed in California.
Joyce claims he experienced nine months of documented psychosis during the time period in which he had the delusional belief that “he was destined to absorb platform losses so other players could win.”
“The plaintiff communicated this delusion directly to ARB staff, demanding they ‘crown’ him, which representatives dismissed as humorous. The delusion further manifested in references to time travel and defeating the platform’s random number generator,” Joyce’s complaint alleges.
Delusional Gambling
Joyce contends that a VIP host assigned to him by Modo Casino “endorsed” his psychotic state. The Modo employee reportedly used Joyce’s self-labeled “Modo’s Martyr” in communications, addressing him as MM in messages.
Encouraged to keep playing, Joyce reports taking out 46 high-interest loans totaling $11,799.55. Affirm provided the quick funds, including 18 loans that totaled $5,584.82 within a span of only 48 hours.
Joyce’s player data reveals he spent 5,631 hours on the sweepstakes casino website, or an average of nearly 14 hours a day. Joyce asked his VIP host to revoke his Black Diamond status to receive fewer perks in an attempt to self-protect and scale back his play. The request was repeatedly denied.
Joyce racked up losses of approximately $240,000. ARB issued him a 1099 tax form for winnings of $61,000, an amount the online casino reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
On April 3, 2025, Joyce says he called a suicide and crisis lifeline and reported a five out of five distress level.
Damages Sought
Joyce’s attorneys are seeking more than $1.6 million in compensatory and statutory damages on claims that ARB exploited his documented disabilities. The complaint alleges that Modo Casino targeted Joyce during his psychosis by elevating him to the highest VIP tier and providing him with gifts, incentives, and promotional offers to encourage compulsive gambling.
The litigation also challenges Modo Casino’s payout rate, citing Joyce’s return to player (RTP) rate of approximately 47% compared with the casino’s advertised 84-95% payout rate.
Modo Casino and ARB have not commented on the ongoing lawsuit.
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