High 5 Games must pay $24.94m in damages after losing a landmark social casino case in Washington. 

Signalling the first-ever verdict against an online social casino, a jury found that High 5’s social casino operated against gambling laws in the Evergreen State. 

As a result of the verdict that followed a court ruling from 2024, a class of Washington consumers will receive the $24,940,366.15 sum. 

This total figure is made up of nearly $18m the class had suffered in damages after losing money on High 5’s website, as well as additional damages of around $7m.

Although the operator argued that it had done nothing wrong, evidence shown to the jury alleged that High 5 had targeted high-risk customers in Washington that were prone to losing large amounts of money on its website. 

As a social casino, High 5 Games offers slot titles that are played using digital tokens rather than real money – but real money can be used to buy said tokens. 

According to further evidence, one user had told High 5 Games that they had become addicted to gambling and needed their account to be restricted. 

However, this user was later lured back into gambling on the website with an offer of free tokens.

Of the class represented in this case, many members lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the online casino, while one member had lost over one million dollars. 

This case is the first trial that sees consumers represented by Edelman PC and Tousley Brain Stephens attempt to hold social casinos accountable as illegal gambling operations.

“Today’s verdict sends a clear message: online casinos that exploit consumers under the guise of ‘social gaming’ will be held accountable,” added Cecily Jordan, partner at Tousley Brain Stephens. 

“Ordinary people who have lost their life savings in these apps now have a jury vindicating them.”

While Edelson and Tousley’s efforts have led to settlements before – amounting to over $650m – this is the first case to make it to trial. 

“Big Tech isn’t just standing by—they’re cashing in,” said Todd Logan, partner at Edelson PC. 

“This verdict is a milestone, but it’s only the beginning. Some of our clients lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to their gambling addictions here, and Big Tech cannot be allowed to continue to profit off of these devastating addictions. 

“We will continue fighting to ensure Big Tech answers for its role in enabling and profiting from illegal gambling.”