High 5 Games withdraws its online casino operations in Connecticut
The provider has paid a $1.5m settlement to the state for alleged unlicensed online casino operations.
Key points:
– High 5 Games has exited the Connecticut online casino operator market
– This action comes following a DCP Gaming Division investigation into alleged unlicenced operations
– The company has paid a $1.5m fine, and remains operational as a supplier within the state
Supplier High 5 Games has officially pulled its online casino operations from the Connecticut state market, following an investigation by the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Gaming Division into suspected unlicenced online casino operations.
Indeed, this investigation has now culminated in a fine of a little under $1.5m, with the supplier’s licence having been suspended in March following the initial surfacing of the allegations. Regarding the penalty fee, High 5 is set to pay a total of $800,000 to be used for consumer protection, compliance resolution programs and education purposes – with $643,000 also set to be paid back to consumers who lost their money on the unlicenced High5Casino site.
Following the revocation of its licensure, High 5 Games issued an official statement reiterating its commitment to regulatory standards. At present, the company remains operational in Connecticut as a licensed supplier – with its online casino operations having been withdrawn.
Speaking on this development, DCP Commissioner, Bryan T. Cafferelli, said: “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.”
Building on this statement, Kris Gilman, DCP Gaming Division Director, added: “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.”
Good to know: FanDuel and DraftKings are the only two licensed online casino operators in the state of Connecticut
This is not the first time High 5 has run into regulatory roadblocks in the US market. After expanding its partnership with Caesars Digital into West Virginia last July, the provider was penalised in Washington state for offering illegal social casino products, subsequently paying a $25m penalty.
Elsewhere, in February, the company pulled its sweepstakes services from six different US state jurisdictions, whilst also announcing it would not be accepting any new profiles in the Canadian market.
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