- On May 30, 2025, Connecticut’s DCP settled with High5Games for $1.5M over its illegal High5Casino, which misled 1,100 residents, causing $937,938 in losses.
- High5Games pays $643,000 to 794 bettors and $800,000 for consumer programs; its license was reinstated on May 22 after ceasing unlicensed operations.
- The case strengthens Connecticut’s $1.2 billion regulated market, but risks of unlicensed sites persist, with more crackdowns and potential sweepstakes laws expected.
Why the Settlement Happened
On March 14, 2025, the DCP suspended High5Games’ license after discovering it was running High5Casino, an illegal sweepstakes platform, despite being licensed to supply slot games to legal operators like DraftKings and FanDuel.
The investigation found that High5Games misled 1,100 Connecticut residents into betting on the unlicensed site, falsely marketed as legal, racking up $937,938 in losses. Shockingly, 108 self-excluded players, who had opted out of gambling via the state’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion List, lost nearly $300,000.
You can see why the DCP acted swiftly: this deception harmed vulnerable players and undermined Connecticut’s regulated market. The settlement, announced on May 30, 2025, followed 1,065 criminal charges filed against High5Games.
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Details of the Settlement
Under the agreement, High5Games will pay $643,000 in restitution to 794 affected bettors and $800,000 to fund consumer protection programs, education, enforcement, and litigation.
In return, the DCP dropped the criminal charges and reinstated the company’s license on May 22, 2025, after it ceased High5Casino operations in Connecticut. The DCP praised High5Games’ cooperation, noting it voluntarily shut down its sweeps platform across six regulated states, including Connecticut.
You might notice this reflects a balance—punishing the violation while allowing a reformed operator to continue under strict oversight. DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli emphasized, “Consumers lured into an unlicensed platform will be made whole.”
Impact on Connecticut’s Gambling Industry
Connecticut’s $1.2 billion online gambling market, limited to DraftKings (Foxwoods) and FanDuel (Mohegan Sun), is tightly regulated to protect players, with only 10% of residents engaging in online betting, per a 2024 survey.
The High5Games case exposes risks of unlicensed platforms, especially those mimicking legal ones, and could push regulators to tighten oversight of licensed providers. For you, this means a safer market if you stick to authorized sites, but it also highlights the allure of unregulated platforms, which can exploit gaps in enforcement.
The settlement may deter similar violations, but with High5Games also facing a $24.9 million penalty in Washington, scrutiny of sweepstakes casinos is growing nationwide.
What’s Next for Connecticut and High5Games
The DCP will monitor High5Games to ensure compliance, while its $800,000 payment will bolster consumer protection efforts.
Connecticut’s focus on enforcement, seen in similar actions against VGW Luckyland, suggests more crackdowns on illegal operators. A proposed bill to regulate sweepstakes could further clarify rules, reducing confusion for players.
You might wonder how this affects your betting: expect stronger warnings to use only licensed platforms like DraftKings or FanDuel. With High5Games’ license reinstated, it can resume supplying slots, but its reputation may take a hit. Stick to “.ct.gov” verified sites to avoid scams as Connecticut doubles down on a fair, legal market.
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