More Operators Face Allegations in Offering Illegal Online Gambling under Washington State Law

A number of online gambling operators have been hit by a series of lawsuits over the last few days, with the companies facing allegations that their online casino offerings have violated Washington state law. Late last week and early this week, a total of four lawsuits were filed against four companies, including DoubleDown Interactive, Huuuge Games, Playtika and High 5 Games, accusing them in offering so-called free-to-play casino games breaching the existing state law.

The legal action follows a US Court of Appeals March ruling that found that the casino games offered by Big Fish Games have violated the Washington state’s online gambling legislation.

Each of the above-mentioned companies offers a range of casino games, such as blackjack, slots and roulette, which use virtual chips that do not have any monetary value themselves but customers are able to play only as long as there are chips in their accounts. Once players run out of chips, they are given the chance to buy chips or they are granted with more free chips by the game.

The lawsuits were filed in US District Court in Seattle and Tacoma and use pretty much the same arguments in their filings, with them also center around the the arguments used in the Big Fish Casino case. The operators have been alleged in using virtual chips to provide their customers with access to their “free-to-play” casino games. However, as explained above, the chips represent “something of value” but are not worth money on their own. Under the existing Washington state gambling law, that clause has been considered as a vague one and according to the lawsuits’ arguments constitutes illegal gambling.

Class action status is being sought by the plaintiffs for the latest series of lawsuits against gambling companies.