Connecticut authorities have taken swift action against High 5 Games, suspending its supplier license and accusing the company of numerous gambling violations. This development has sent shockwaves through the online gaming community.
Key Takeaways:
- High 5 Games faces nearly 1,100 counts of professional gambling violations
- Connecticut suspends High 5 Games’ online gaming service provider license
- Illegal operation accepted over $3.1 million in deposits from state residents
License Suspension and Illegal Operations
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division (DCP) has suspended High 5 Games’ online gaming service provider license. This decision comes after an investigation uncovered the company’s involvement in operating an unlicensed online casino, High5Casino.
High5Casino, marketed as a legal “licensed” casino, accepted wagers from Connecticut bettors, including those on the state’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion List. The platform operated from around 2012 until October 2022 under High 5 Games, before being transferred to High 5 Entertainment. In March 2023, it began offering casino games through its Sweepstakes model.
Financial Impact and Consumer Losses
Data revealed that 1,065 Connecticut customers deposited over $3.1 million on the High5Casino platform since its Sweepstakes launch. Of these, 911 customers lost a total of $937,938. Alarmingly, 108 individuals on the Voluntary Self-Exclusion List lost nearly $300,000 on the platform.
DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli stated, “It is a privilege to hold this license, and we expect our credential holders to take that responsibility seriously. High5Games took advantage of their credential to mislead consumers into believing they were participating in gaming on a legal platform when, in fact, they were breaking the law.”
Legal Consequences and Consumer Protection
High5Games, as the majority owner of High5Casino, faces 1,065 criminal counts of conducting illegal gaming activity. Each charge is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying potential penalties of up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,000.
The DCP is seeking restitution for eligible consumers who suffered financial losses after being misled about High5Casino’s legal status in Connecticut. DCP Gaming Division director Kris Gilman emphasized, “We remind consumers that gambling on licensed platforms is the only way to guarantee recovered funds in the event of an issue with a game or platform.”
Impact on Legal Operators
Following the license suspension, High5Games’ content has been removed from FanDuel and DraftKings’ platforms, the only two legal online casino operators in Connecticut. This action underscores the importance of regulatory compliance in the online gambling industry and serves as a reminder of the risks associated with unlicensed operators.
The case against High 5 Games highlights the ongoing challenges faced by regulators in maintaining the integrity of the online gambling market and protecting consumers from illegal operations.
