The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) in Connecticut announced it has reached a settlement with High 5 Games over claims the company is operating an illegal online casino.
High 5 Games had been licensed in the state to provide slots to legal online casinos, but its license was revoked in March this year for alleged violations of Connecticut’s gaming laws.
A statement from the DCP noted that, “High5Games has ceased operation of its online casino in Connecticut, and its Online Gaming Service Provider license has been reinstated, effective May 22.”
The company agreed to pay a total of $1.5 million to the state for its violations, including $643,000 to losing customers and a further $800,000, which goes towards DCP running costs.
DCP Commissioner pleased with the settlement
DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli commented, “This case is just one example of the hard work our Gaming Division does to ensure a fair, safe and legal gaming market in Connecticut,”
“We are pleased the Connecticut consumers who were lured into placing wagers on an unlicensed platform will be made whole, and that this company has ceased operations of its unlicensed casino in Connecticut.”
Connecticut sports betting and online gaming was legalized in October 2021. Since then, the industry has grown, from 2022 through 2024, state revenue from sportsbooks and online casinos increased from nearly $56 million to over $98 million. DraftKings and FanDuel are the officially licensed online betting platforms, working with tribal casinos in the state, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.
In 2024, the combination of online and retail sports betting generated a total handle of over $2.08 billion, resulting in $25.76 million in tax revenue for the state.
DCP Gaming Division Director Kris Gilman also commented on the outcome of the case, noting, “We are satisfied with the outcome of this investigation, which has resulted in the return of funds to consumers who were harmed by the unfair marketing of an unlicensed sweepstakes casino.”
“If you’re going to gamble, Connecticut is the best state to place a wager. We work hard to ensure fairness in our licensed market, and when violations do occur, we make every effort to make sure consumers are made whole.”
High 5 Games exiting states
Connecticut is the latest state to clamp down on High 5’s operations. The company also exited New York last month due to legislation proposing a ban on sweepstakes casinos.
Earlier this year, they also had to pay a $25 million fine in Washington, with $18 million of this restoring player losses on the platform. The company has now ceased operations in 13 states across the country.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.
