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State of Play’s TL;DR
- Washington’s attorney general is asking a judge to shutter 16 social casinos.
- The state looks to recover more than $225 million.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown is asking a King County judge to shut down 16 social casino-style mobile apps and recover the money that residents spent on virtual coins and credits.
The case could turn on whether those digital items qualify as a “thing of value” under state law.
The AG’s lawsuit targets Playtika, Aristocrat, and affiliated companies behind apps offering virtual slots, poker, bingo, and similar gambling-style games.
According to the complaint, more than 150,000 Washington players used the platforms each month.
Playtika says state gaming brochure protects it
The state alleges Washington users made more than eight million purchases worth over $151 million on Playtika-developed apps since September 2020. It also alleges 2.3 million purchases worth at least $74 million on Aristocrat apps over the same period. Brown is seeking to recoup more than $225 million in total spending.
At the center of the case is a familiar social casino defense: Players cannot directly cash out virtual coins. But the lawsuit argues the apps still may violate Washington law because the coins and rewards can function as a “thing of value,” including what the state describes as “a privilege of playing at a game or scheme without charge.”
The complaint also alleges users suffered financial and emotional harm.
The filing raises another issue likely to get attention beyond Washington: underage access. The state says the platforms did not require age-identification information, creating a risk that minors could use gambling-style apps.
Playtika has already moved to dismiss the case. In its filing, it cited a 2014 Washington State Gambling Commission brochure that said: “No Prize = No Gambling = OK To Play.” That argument tees up the core legal question for the court: whether virtual currency, extra play, or app-based rewards are enough to trigger Washington’s gambling laws even without direct cash redemption.
Based on reporting by Grant Mitchell for Casinocom.
