High 5 Games issued with Connecticut suspension for operating “illegal casino platform”
An investigation from the state’s Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division found players lost nearly $1m with firm’s sweepstakes site
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Gaming Division has suspended High 5 Games from operating in the state over allegations the sweepstakes casino was running an “illegal online casino”.
The suspension has been handed out by DCP Gaming Division following an investigation into the supplier’s online casino platform, High 5 Casino.
High 5 Games offers the standard sweeps model, whereby users can play for free with game coins, or use sweeps coins to play casino games with which can then be redeemed for prizes and cash.
High 5 Games is alleged to have marketed the casino platform as a legal licensed casino and accepted bets from players in the Constitution State.
This is despite FanDuel and DraftKings being the only licensed online casino operators in Connecticut, via affiliations with Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casino, respectively.
According to the DCP, High 5 Casino accepted deposits and bets from 1,100 Connecticut players. From that number, 911 customers lost a total of $937,938 with the platform.
Out of the 911 losing customers, 108 had signed up to the state’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion List, with self-excluded players alone losing almost $300,000 with High 5 Casino.
As a result, High 5 Games will be charged with 1,065 criminal counts of conducting illegal gaming activity, the DCP stated.
Investigators will be seeking criminal charges for violations of Connecticut’s gambling laws, for which each charge is regarded as a Class A misdemeanor and can carry a penalty of up to one year in jail and a maximum $2,000 fine.
The DCP will also seek compensation for the players who lost money with High 5 Casino, claiming they were “misled to believe that High 5 Casino was a legal form of gaming in Connecticut”.
The investigation was kickstarted after High 5 Games said it would be exiting Connecticut as of March 14, with player accounts and purchases stopped from February 18.
However, investigators were able to continue to deposit into High 5 Casino accounts post-February 18, with the DCP pursuing the charges against High 5 Games’ leadership team on March 13.
DCP commissioner Bryan T Cafferelli said: “Thank you to our Gaming Division team for their hard work to hold this licensee accountable.
“It is a privilege to hold this license, and we expect our credential holders to take that responsibility seriously. High 5 Games took advantage of their credential to mislead consumers into believing they were participating in gaming on a legal platform when, in fact, they were breaking the law.
“We remind consumers that there are only two licensed online casinos in Connecticut — DraftKings/Foxwoods and FanDuel/Mohegan Sun — and if you choose to participate in online gaming, you should only utilize one of the legal platforms licensed to operate in our state.”
In addition to the immediate suspension, any games High 5 Games supplied to either FanDuel or DraftKings will be removed from the operators’ respective platforms.
DCP Gaming Division director Kris Gilman added: “We are disappointed that a licensed gaming service provider took advantage of Connecticut consumers by operating an illegal casino platform.
“It is difficult to recover funds for consumers from illegal platforms. We remind consumers that gambling on licensed platforms is the only way to guarantee recovered funds in the event of an issue with a game or platform.”
In addition to the Connecticut suspension, High 5 Casino is also set to depart the New Jersey market.
In an email sent to New Jersey players, High 5 Casino announced its platform was officially closed effective from March 14, 2025.
Players will no longer have access to High 5’s sweeps product, although classic play will still be available.
The email said: “As we close our operations in New Jersey, we want to thank you for being part of the High 5 Casino community. Starting March 14, 2025, Sweeps play will no longer be available in New Jersey, but you can continue enjoying classic play as usual.
“It’s never easy to say goodbye, but we are deeply grateful for your loyalty and the time you’ve shared with us. If you relocate to a state where we operate, we’d love to welcome you back.
“Thank you for the memories, it has been a pleasure serving the New Jersey community.”
The email sent to New Jersey players is the same notice issued to Connecticut users earlier this year.
EGR has contacted High 5 Games and the sweepstakes trade body, the Social and Promotional Gaming Association, for comment.