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Attorney General Nick Brown has taken legal action against two of the biggest names in social casino gaming, accusing them of running unlicensed gambling operations in Washington.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday (Feb 3) in federal court, claims that Playtika and Aristocrat have been offering casino-style apps without state approval, pulling in more than $225 million from residents since September 2020.
According to the complaint, the companies run 16 different apps that attract over 150,000 Washingtonians every month. These apps, marketed as sweepstakes games, allow users to spend real money for the chance to win prizes, a structure the state says meets all the elements of gambling under Washington law.
The filing argues that the operators violated both the Gambling Act and the Consumer Protection Act. Brown’s office is asking the court to stop the companies from continuing their activities in Washington and to order full repayment of the money residents lost through the apps.
Playtika accused of targeting children
The lawsuit claims Playtika and its partners not only run unlicensed gambling apps but also design them in ways that appeal to children.
None of the platforms ask for age or date of birth, leaving minors free to access games that mimic casinos.
Bingo Blitz, one of Playtika’s flagship titles, is singled out for its cartoon characters, a blue cat named Blitzy, his mouse friend Moxie, and even a grandmother figure who hands Blitzy a photo album to fill by playing bingo across a colorful map. The app extends beyond gameplay with a YouTube channel that produces content resembling children’s television.
Parents have reported that their children use family phones to play Bingo Blitz, sometimes spending hundreds of dollars buying in-game currency.
“These companies repeatedly violated Washington law, engaged in deceptive practices, and fleeced Washingtonians out of hundreds of millions of dollars,” Brown said. “It is especially troubling to see gambling apps targeting children.”
Beyond Bingo Blitz, other apps such as Caesar’s Casino Slots, World Series of Poker, and Big Fish Casino have become really popular in Washington. Players purchase bundles of virtual coins with real money, then use them on slots, poker, or scratchcards for the chance to win more coins.
According to the state, this structure meets the definition of gambling, and the losses have been massive.
Brown cites 2018 Virtual Currency ruling
AG Brown pointed back to a key court decision that reshaped how Washington treats online gambling. In 2006, lawmakers had already amended the state’s Gambling Act to make clear that internet gambling was banned unless licensed.
But the turning point came in 2018, when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that virtual currency used in casino apps counts as a “thing of value.” That ruling meant coins and credits inside these apps were legally no different from cash wagers.
Despite this ruling, Playtika and Aristocrat continued to operate in Washington. Both companies have already faced consequences in the past, with Playtika agreeing to pay $38 million in 2020 to settle a consumer class action and Big Fish Games, now under Aristocrat, resolving a similar case. Still, the companies have kept their apps running in the state.
The current lawsuit lists a wide range of sweepstakes casinos, from Slotomania and House of Fun to World Series of Poker, Bingo Blitz, and Big Fish Casino. Other apps named include Caesar’s Casino Slots, Poker Heat, Monopoly Poker, Governor of Poker 3, Jackpot Magic Slots, Lightning Link Casino, Cashman Casino, Heart of Vegas, Mighty Fu Casino, and NFL Superbowl Slots Casino.
