Could box breaking be considered gambling or a lot...
Key takeaways
- The claims say randomized box breaks are effectively unregulated games of chance.
- Lesko told ESPN "the process should begin by mid-July."
- "Gambling isn't allowed on Whatnot, and we strictly enforce this policy," the company said in its statement.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Dan Hajducky Jun 20, 2026, 07:51 AM ETClose Dan Hajducky is a staff writer for ESPN. He has an MFA in creative writing from Fairfield University and played on the men's soccer teams at Fordham and Southern Connecticut State universities.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions. A long-standing practice in the collectibles industry is facing scrutiny amid legal challenges levied at two live shopping platforms.
Two separate legal claims say that "breaking," a practice in which sealed boxes of cards or memorabilia are opened on a livestream in front of individuals who purchased "slots" to claim pieces of the lot, could be considered unlawful gambling schemes. The claims say randomized box breaks are effectively unregulated games of chance.
This spring, attorney Paul Lesko filed an arbitration demand against Whatnot on behalf of nearly 70 customers, and a separate lawsuit filed in July 2025 by another group of plaintiffs makes similar claims against Whatnot and Fanatics Live. Lesko told ESPN "the process should begin by mid-July."