The Department of Consumer Protection in Connecticut has issued a suspension of license for High5Games, which it says also illegally operated another online casino. High5Games is a legal licensed service provider in the state of Connecticut - but in a recent investigation conducted by the DCP, it was found that High5Games also illegally operates High5Casino, which is unlicensed.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (Gaming Division) has submitted a suspension of the Online Gaming Service Provider license held by High5Games following an investigation that revealed the company was illegally operating another online casino which remains without a license, High5Casino.

High5Games, a licensed developer and provider of slot content for legal gaming platforms, was found to be running High5Casino without proper authorization. The platform was falsely marketed as a legally licensed casino and was also accepting wagers from Connecticut residents, including persons who had voluntarily signed up for the Voluntary Self-Exclusion List in the state.

Violation of Connecticut gaming laws

Connecticut law permits only two platforms to offer iCasino wagering within the state: DraftKings and FanDuel, which operate under agreements with Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun, respectively. The DCP Gaming Division's investigation stated that High5Casino had accepted deposits from 1,100 players in Connecticut, with 911 individuals collectively losing $937,938. Alarmingly, 108 of these individuals were on the state's Voluntary Self-Exclusion List, and they lost nearly $300,000 on the illegal platform.

As a result of these violations, High5Games is now facing 1,065 criminal counts of illegal gaming activities. Each count is classified as a Class A misdemeanor under Connecticut law, carrying a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail as well as a fine of up to $2,000 per violation.

DCP pledges consumer restitution and enforcement

DCP has stated that it will seek compensation for eligible consumers who suffered financial losses due to the misleading marketing of High5Casino as a legitimate platform.

"Thank you to our Gaming Division team for their hard work to hold this licensee accountable," said Bryan T. Cafferelli, DCP Commissioner. He went on to say that holding a gaming license is a privilege, and they expect their credential holders to take that responsibility seriously. But High5Games took advantage of their credential to mislead consumers into believing they were engaging in legal gaming when, in reality, they were breaking the law. Furthermore, he stated: "We remind consumers that there are only two licensed online casinos in Connecticut - DraftKings/Foxwoods and FanDuel/Mohegan Sun. If you choose to participate in online gaming, ensure you use only these licensed platforms."

Kris Gilman, the DCP Gaming Division Director, echoed this sentiment, expressing disappointment that a licensed service provider exploited Connecticut consumers. "It is difficult to recover funds from illegal platforms," Gilman said. "Gambling on licensed platforms is the only way to guarantee recovered funds in the event of an issue with a game or platform."

Immediate suspension and removal of High5Games content

The suspension of High5Games' Online Gaming Service Provider license is effective immediately. Additionally, all games provided by High5Games to DraftKings and FanDuel will be removed from their platforms. A copy of the official summary suspension order has been made available to the public.

The DCP encourages consumers to report any gaming-related issues or concerns by contacting [email protected]. For individuals experiencing gambling-related issues, confidential support is available through the Connecticut Council on Problem Gaming's 24/7 Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-888-789-7777 or by visiting ccpg.org. Additional information about self-exclusion programs and resources for those struggling with gambling addiction can be found at portal.ct.gov/problemgaming or ct.gov/selfexclusion.

As regulatory authorities continue to uphold gaming laws in Connecticut, consumers are reminded to exercise caution and only engage with legally licensed online gaming platforms.