**High 5 Games Apps Ruled Illegal in Washington**
The Western Washington District Court, presided over by Judge Tiffany Cartwright, has delivered a landmark verdict declaring two mobile apps offered by High 5 Games as illegal under Washington state law. The apps in question, High 5 Casino and High 5 Vegas, have been found to constitute online gambling, a practice that the state strictly prohibits.
**Washington’s Stance on Online Gambling**
Washington's legal framework defines online gambling as any activity that requires participants to place value on the outcome of a game of chance or an event where a prize is at stake. By these definitions, many gaming operators—social or otherwise—avoid offering their services within the state. High 5 Games, however, contended that their apps operated with virtual coins and positioned themselves as "social casinos."
**The Verdict: Games Emulate Physical Slot Machines**
Judge Cartwright found that High 5’s games closely emulate video slot machines commonly used for gambling in physical casinos. This led her to rule that High 5 Casino and High 5 Vegas are prohibited under Washington's Consumer Protection Act and the Recovery of Money Lost at Gambling Act. The decision follows a lengthy six-year legal battle initiated by High 5 Games player Rick Larsen, who first filed the lawsuit.
**Monetary Transactions and Player Dependency**
The court highlighted that these apps promoted illegal gambling activities by requiring players to purchase additional game chips using real money to continue playing. High 5 Games argued in their defense that players could use free coins provided upon registration and distributed periodically during gameplay. However, Judge Cartwright noted that users cannot play with regularity unless they are willing to pay real money. Importantly, Washington law recognizes virtual currency as a "thing of value," regardless of its inability to be converted into cash.
**Immediate Implications for High 5 Games**
Following the verdict, High 5 Games has indicated efforts to cease their operations within Washington. Judge Cartwright also ruled that the company is liable to pay damages to Larsen and other plaintiffs involved in the case, with the amount to be determined by a jury. This ruling sets a precedent for future cases involving online gambling and virtual currency within the state.
**Ongoing Legal Challenges and Broader Implications**
Separate from this case, another legal battle involving High 5 Games, Wilson vs. PTT, LLC, remains active but has made little progress since early 2023. This indicates that the scrutiny on online gaming companies within Washington is far from over.
In a related decision, Judge Robert Lasnik found that online gaming companies DoubleDown Interactive and IGT also violated Washington state gambling laws. Their games are free to play but offer additional chips for purchase, which players can bet to acquire more chips instead of buying them outright. This model of free-to-play games with microtransactions falls under the umbrella of online gambling as per Washington’s legal definitions.
**Conclusion: Upholding State Gambling Laws**
The undisputed material facts in these cases demonstrate that certain types of online games, even those marketed as "social casinos," are in violation of Washington's stringent gambling laws. These rulings serve as a cautionary tale for other game developers and operators considering entering markets with strict regulations on online gambling. High 5 Games has not yet issued a public response to the verdict, and the broader implications of these legal battles will likely unfold in the coming months.
The precedent set in these cases reiterates the importance of adhering to local laws and regulations, particularly when it involves activities that can so easily blur the lines between entertainment and gambling. As the industry continues to evolve, it remains crucial for gaming companies to stay well-informed and compliant with the legal landscapes of the regions they operate in.