Connecticut Revokes License of High 5 Games Due to Suspension
Rewritten Article:
High 5 Games, a well-known player in the online gaming world, is currently in hot water following a series of gambling violations in Connecticut. With the state's authorities taking swift action, the company's supplier license has been revoked, and they're accused of operating an illegal online casino.
This announcement has certainly sent ripples through the gaming community, with nearly 1,100 counts of professional gambling violations on the table.
The Fallout: High 5 Games' License Suspension
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division (DCP) has pulled the plug on High 5 Games' online gaming service provider license. An investigation revealed that High 5 Games had been secretly running High5Casino, an unlicensed online casino.
High5Casino, which masqueraded as a legitimate casino, engaged in wagers with Connecticut residents, even those on the state's Voluntary Self-Exclusion List. The platform had been operating under High 5 Games since around 2012, only to be transferred to High 5 Entertainment in October 2022. In March 2023, it resurfaced offering casino games through a Sweepstakes model.
The Financial Hit: Money Lost and Customers Misled
Digging deep into the numbers, it's clear that 1,065 Connecticut customers deposited over $3.1 million on the High5Casino platform since its Sweepstakes launch. Out of these, a staggering 911 customers lost a shocking $937,938. To make matters worse, 108 individuals on the Voluntary Self-Exclusion List lost almost $300,000 on the platform.
DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli made it clear, "We expect our license holders to take their responsibilities seriously. High5Games misled customers into believing they were participating in legal gaming, when in fact they were breaking the law."
Legal Ramifications: High 5 Games Faces the Music
High5Games, as the majority owner of High5Casino, faces 1,065 criminal counts of illegal gaming activities. Each count is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and fines of up to $2,000.
The DCP is now fighting for the rights of consumers who suffered financial losses due to the deception. They're seeking restitution for eligible customers who were misled about High5Casino's legal status in Connecticut. Kris Gilman, director of the DCP Gaming Division, emphasized, "Playing on licensed platforms is the only guarantee of recovery if there's an issue with a game or platform."
Implications for the Industry: Legal Operators Feel the Heat
With High 5 Games' content now off FanDuel and DraftKings' platforms - the only two legal online casino operators in Connecticut - the importance of regulatory compliance in the online gambling industry has never been clearer. This event serves as a potent reminder of the risks associated with unlicensed operators.
As a whole, the case against High 5 Games underscores the ongoing battle regulators face in maintaining the integrity of the online gambling market and protecting consumers from unscrupulous operators.
- The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division (DCP) has suspended the license of High 5 Games, due to their operation of an unlicensed online casino called High5Casino.
- High5Casino, which had been operating since around 2012, had been engaging in wagers with Connecticut residents, even those on the state's Voluntary Self-Exclusion List.
- As a result of this illegal activity, High 5 Games is facing 1,065 criminal counts of Class A misdemeanors, each punishable by up to one year in jail and fines of up to $2,000.
- The DCP is now fighting for the rights of consumers who suffered financial losses due to High5Casino's deception, seeking restitution for eligible customers.
- This incident highlights the importance of regulatory compliance in the online gambling industry, as High 5 Games' content has been removed from FanDuel and DraftKings' platforms, the only two legal online casino operators in Connecticut.
- The ongoing battle regulators face in maintaining the integrity of the online gambling market and protecting consumers from unscrupulous operators is further underscored by the case against High 5 Games, with implications in casino-and-gambling policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, general-news, and politics.
