Published on: April 15, 2026, 01:50h.
Updated on: April 15, 2026, 01:50h.
- Modo Casino faces allegations of targeting a player with a recognized disability
- The claimant asserts he suffered from a psychotic episode, believing he was fated to lose for others’ wins
A plaintiff based in California has initiated a federal lawsuit against a prominent sweepstakes casino operator, alleging that it employed exploitative tactics and engaged in deceptive practices that breach both state and federal regulations.
Matthew Joyce claims in his lawsuit that he battles bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms, as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and dissociation. He acknowledges suffering from a gambling addiction, which qualifies as a disability under California legislation and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to Joyce, between September 2024 and April 2025, he frequently gambled on the Modo Casino platform, an online sweepstakes casino operated by ARB Interactive, which is based in Arizona but allows access in California.
Joyce asserts that he endured nine months of documented psychosis, during which he held the delusional belief that “he was meant to endure platform losses so that other players could benefit.”
“The plaintiff expressed this delusion directly to ARB personnel, asking them to ‘crown’ him, which the representatives dismissed as a joke. The delusion also included references to time travel and overcoming the platform’s random number generator,” the complaint states.
Illusory Gambling
Joyce claims that a VIP host assigned by Modo Casino “endorsed” his delusions. The Modo employee is reported to have referred to Joyce as “Modo’s Martyr” in communications, addressing him as MM in messages.
Urged to continue gambling, Joyce states he took out 46 high-interest loans totaling $11,799.55. Affirm provided swift funding, facilitating 18 loans that totaled $5,584.82 in just 48 hours.
Joyce’s gaming activity indicates he spent 5,631 hours on the sweepstakes casino site, averaging nearly 14 hours daily. Despite requesting his VIP host to downgrade his Black Diamond status to reduce perks and control his gambling, the request was repeatedly declined.
He accumulated losses of around $240,000, while ARB issued him a 1099 tax form for reported winnings of $61,000, a sum that the online casino reported to the IRS.
On April 3, 2025, Joyce reached out to a suicide and crisis hotline, reporting a distress level of five out of five.
Compensation Sought
Joyce’s legal team is pursuing over $1.6 million in compensatory and statutory damages, arguing that ARB took advantage of his recognized disabilities. The lawsuit claims Modo Casino specifically targeted Joyce during his psychotic episode by promoting him to the highest VIP tier and offering gifts, incentives, and promotional deals to encourage addictive gambling behavior.
The case also questions Modo Casino’s payout rate, highlighting Joyce’s return to player (RTP) rate of approximately 47%, which contrasts sharply with the casino’s advertised payout range of 84-95%.
Modo Casino and ARB have yet to issue a statement regarding the ongoing legal proceedings.