High 5 Games, an online gaming company, will pay $1.44 million to settle claims it ran an unlicensed online casino in Connecticut. The state’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) said the High 5 Casino platform broke gaming laws by offering casino games without a license.
Around 1,100 Connecticut residents have used the unlicensed platform since March 2023, with 911 users losing about $938,000. The DCP found that 108 users were on the state’s self-exclusion list for problem gamblers.
The company stopped operating its casino in Connecticut. The DCP returned its supplier license on May 22, 2025, after High 5 Games met settlement terms.
The DCP dropped over 1,000 criminal charges after the settlement. High 5 Games did not admit guilt. “This agreement ensures consumers are made whole,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli.
The settlement terms are highlighted by the fact that High 5 Games must block Connecticut residents from its platform using technology. This stops access to the platform with VPNs.
There’s a flat agreement that the company cannot offer sweepstakes games without a license. A condition of the settlement is that High 5 will send reports every three months until April 2026 to show it follows the rules.
The settlement includes $643,000 to repay 794 customers and $800,000 for consumer protection programs. These funds will be used to help consumer complaints and responsible gaming programs. Unclaimed repayment money after six months goes to the state.
“This case is one example of our Gaming Division’s work to ensure a fair, safe, and legal gaming market,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli. Director Kris Gilman said, “We are satisfied with the return of funds to consumers harmed by this unlicensed casino.”
Fans of High 5 Games’ offerings aren’t completely losing access to the provider’s services. Players may not be aware they’re using the brand’s games elsewhere within the legal online casino space.
Connecticut’s legal gaming landscape includes casino gambling, sports betting, and online gaming, regulated primarily under the 2021 gaming expansion law. Two tribal casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, operate under federal-tribal compacts, offering slots, table games, and poker.
Sports betting and online casino gaming are legal, with DraftKings and FanDuel as key operators. High 5 Games will still supply slot games to DraftKings and FanDuel, but users won’t be able to utilize High 5 Games outside of these settings.
The state lottery also provides games. Strict regulations ensure consumer protection, with retail and online options available statewide.
High 5 Games’ troubles in Connecticut come on the heels of High 5 Games being ordered to pay over $24.94m in damages in Washington. Despite the operator arguing 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.
This latest settlement in Connecticut must prove to be a turning point for the organization. American Gaming Association (AGA) CEO, Bill Miller, who revealed his belief that they are “a newer category of unregulated actors”.
He continued: “These entrants deploy legal acrobatics to avoid calling themselves betting or gambling, only then to offer products that most would most universally would agree are gambling, yet without the safeguards and regulatory constraints that build consumer trust, promote responsibility and support state budgets.”
In 2024, High 5 Games reported $78 million in revenue, dropping to $65 million in 2025 due to regulatory challenges like what was imposed in Washington and Connecticut.
In order for High 5 to get back to record high revenue figures, they’ll need to avoid pitfalls that sweeps casinos are facing at an increased rate. Otherwise, High 5 could continue to face legal setbacks and lose millions of dollars.
