If you were hoping for some sweet justice to be dispensed by the federal court against YouTubers Trevor “TMarTn” Martin and Tom “ProSyndicate” Cassell, then prepare for disappointment. The federal judge presiding over the class-action lawsuit filed against Valve and the YouTubers has dismissed the case.
According to Develop-Online, Martin filed a motion to dismiss the case and U.S. District Judge John C Coughenour granted the motion, stating that… “gambling losses are not sufficient injury to business or property for RICO standing.”
On the upside, the case could be dropped down to the lower courts on the state level and there are still possibilities for recourse against the YouTubers in that regards.
In fact, State gambling commissions are already aware of these issues and the Washington State Gambling Commissioner recently issued Valve a cease and desist letter to ensure that they do not allow any of their Steam OpenID API technology to be used for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gambling.
It’s still possible the suit could gain ground with the commissioner’s office, assuming the plaintiffs and the lawyers want to go through the motions to make it happen on a state level.
While things may have a hit a bump in the road regarding the lawsuit against Valve, most people expected that the digital distributor would get off one way or another. What they were not hoping for was Martain and Cassell to escape the long arm of the law.
Britain has already taken action against one YouTuber, a certain Craig “Nepenthez” Douglas for promoting gambling in the FIFA games to underage gamers and minors. James “PhantomLord’ Vargas also came under fire in a separate lawsuit for running a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gambling ring.
It’s not impossible that a state gambling commissions may still go after Martin and Cassell for the same thing, but given that all of these gambling rings operated online, it’s going to be difficult to determine where jurisdiction falls.
And failing all the lawsuits, there’s still a matter of the Federal Trade Commission looking into the gambling rings on the grounds of unlawful solicitation and misleading endorsements for the gambling sites.
(Main image courtesy of Joe)
