⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

We hear the Seventh Circuit in Ambrosia versus Blazesoft. Two Illinois customers sued online casino operators and related companies, alleging illegal gambling disguised as free-to-play sweepstakes. The companies invoked contract terms requiring arbitration instead of a lawsuit. The district court ordered arbitration, and the customers appealed. Their contracts also choose Ontario law. The question is whether that choice governs a court's decision to enforce arbitration under the New York Convention, a treaty covering international arbitration agreements and awards. The customers will rely on Ontario law, including unconscionability. In Canadian law, unconscionability means unequal bargaining power that produces an unfair bargain. The companies will argue that only narrow, internationally recognized defenses can defeat arbitration under the treaty. This appeal concerns where the claims are decided, not whether the casinos operated unlawfully.

Vincent Ambrosia Jr. v. Blazesoft Ltd. (No. 26-1455) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued October 1, 2026.