Class Action: Big Fish Casino Constitutes Illegal Gambling in Washington [UPDATE]
by Erin Shaak
Last Updated on November 12, 2020
Thimmegowda v. Big Fish Games, Inc. et al
Filed: February 11, 2019 ◆§ 2:19cv199
Big Fish Games, Inc. has been named in a proposed class action out of Washington federal court that alleges its online casino constitutes “illegal gambling” under state law.
Big Fish Games, Inc. Aristocrat Technologies Inc. Aristocrat Leisure Limited Churchill Downs Incorporated
Washington
Case Updates
November 12, 2020 – $155M Settlement Reached
Big Fish Games, Churchill Downs and Aristocrat Technologies have reached a $155 million deal to settle the claims detailed on this page.
The settlement, which will end two lawsuits filed against the companies, allows gamers to be reimbursed for some of the money they spent on virtual chips playing Big Fish Casino, Jackpot Magic Slots, and Epic Diamond Slots.
Anyone who played one or more of the three casino-style games on or before August 31, 2020 is eligible for the settlement and must file a claim before January 4, 2021 to receive compensation. The amount each claimant receives from the settlement will be based on how much money they spent on the games and can be estimated here.
For more information, and to file a claim online, visit the settlement website here.
Big Fish Games, Inc. has been named in a proposed class action out of Washington federal court that alleges its online casino constitutes “illegal gambling” under state law.
Also named as defendants in the suit are Aristocrat Technologies Inc., Aristocrat Leisure Limited, and Churchill Downs Incorporated, which, together with Big Fish Games, operate Big Fish Casino, an online collection of slot machine and other internet casino games. Echoing allegations in several other lawsuits filed against internet gaming companies, the case argues that the defendants’ “free-to-play” games of chance exploit “the same psychological triggers” as casino operators, with players initially given a bundle of free chips that they will “inevitably lose” before buying additional chips to continue playing the games.
“These free sample chips offer a taste of gambling and are designed to encourage players to get hooked and buy more chips for real money,” the complaint explains.
The lawsuit points out that Big Fish Casino’s “micro-transaction based games” have been the subject of a prior case that sought relief from the casino’s previous owner. This case seeks to compensate people who lost purchased chips in the defendants’ games on or after March 24, 2015.
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