Amazon on Trial: Is the Appstore Threatened with Collapse Because of Social Casino Apps?
Amazon on Trial: Is the Appstore Threatened with Collapse Because of Social Casino Apps?
In 2023, a man named Stephen Horn, an avid social casino user, sued Amazon. As he himself said, "from himself and from other brothers in misfortune." According to the lawsuit:
🤩 Amazon illegally promotes social casinos on its Amazon Appstore;
🤩 The company is a participant in the casino business because it receives 30% of the income from unhappy losing users at the expense of the commission;
🤩 Thus, Amazon violates, among other things, the legislation of the state of Washington, where the company is based - here social casinos are equated to ordinary ones.
And the court agrees with the plaintiff on almost all points.
Was it possible?
The main problem with such applications is the complete lack of regulation. Unlike licensed slots, playing them... Doubtful. For example, the declared RTP (return to player) may not be the usual 95%, but 80% or any random value at all — no one checks them.
The CEO of one of these social casinos once bluntly stated:
"We can do things that a cameraman in Vegas would go to jail for."
And what about Amazon?
Amazon's reasoning... Missing. If you read the case, they don't really try to defend themselves.
First of all, the company suggested that the court postpone the process and limit the disclosure of documents. I tried to use Article 230 in my defense, which says that the company should not be responsible for the content of third parties.
The court was not convinced
In October 2025, the parties negotiated an amicable agreement, and, it seems, not without success. But if it is not there, the case will go into a burdensome trial, which will last until October 2026.
By the way, in July 2023, Apple, Google, and Meta had already warned the Court of Appeal that if the platforms were responsible for processing virtual chip purchases, then the entire Internet economy could be at risk.
So if Amazon loses this process, the consequences could affect not only them, but all other app stores.
