Connecticut and High 5 Games Reach Settlement in Recent Sweepstakes Case

The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) in Connecticut has recently announced a settlement with High 5 Entertainment, the creative minds behind High 5 Games, a well-known provider in the online casino market. As part of this settlement, the company will pay a staggering $1.5 million in restitution and penalties. This agreement follows the state’s determination that High 5 Games supplied their products to unlicensed sweepstakes platforms, which is a violation of Connecticut law. Consequently, the company is required to return $643,000 to 794 users and allocate $800,000 to the state’s Consumer Protection Enforcement Fund. Kris Gilman, the director of the department’s gaming division, expressed satisfaction with the result, emphasizing that the consumers affected by the unlawful marketing strategies of an unlicensed sweepstakes casino are finally receiving the justice they deserve.

This recent settlement further highlights the longstanding conflicts in the sweepstakes sector, which have increasingly caught the attention of lawmakers nationwide. In an illustrative case, VGW, the company behind Chumba Casino and several other brands, has also come under scrutiny, having been mandated to cease its operations by August 1, 2025. High 5 Entertainment faced accusations of offering products to websites that did not meet Connecticut’s legal standards

This recent settlement further highlights the longstanding conflicts in the sweepstakes sector, which have increasingly caught the attention of lawmakers nationwide. In an illustrative case, VGW, the company behind Chumba Casino and several other brands, has also come under scrutiny, having been mandated to cease its operations by August 1, 2025. High 5 Entertainment faced accusations of offering products to websites that did not meet Connecticut’s legal standards. Even though sweepstakes are not traditionally classified as gambling, the tides are shifting, with Connecticut inching closer to formalizing a law that may redefine them as such.

This settlement serves as a testament to the DCP’s commitment to ensuring a transparent and lawful gaming environment in Connecticut. DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferlli heralded this victory as a crucial example of the department’s efficacy when dealing with legal violations in the gaming industry. This proactive stance ensures that consumers who were enticed into wagering on unlicensed platforms are compensated and that companies like High 5 Games are held accountable for their actions. An important note, however, is that while High 5 Games faced significant penalties, their license was not suspended. Instead, the firm agreed to submit quarterly reports detailing which entities are utilizing their products within the state.

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