Aristocrat Settles Social Casino Case for $31 Million

This story was published more than 3 years ago.

Australian betting giant Aristocrat Leisure has announced that they've settled a lawsuit related to US customers who bought digital chips for social casino games, agreeing to pay back $31 million.

The case relates to Aristocrat subsidiary Big Fish Gaming's social casinos, wherein players pay money for virtual chips to play casino games in which they have no chance of winning cash or other prizes. Despite the idiocy of the players, a court in Washington State ruled that Big Fish's virtual chips constituted illegal gambling and players filed class-action suits soon after.

Under the terms of the settlement, Aristocrat will pay $31 million to resolve the case, while Big Fish's previous owner Churchill Downs Incorporated will pay $124 million.

Somehow, there are two documented cases of punters losing $1,000 and $3,000 to the casino games.

While the payout is sizable, digital games are big business for Aristocrat, who said that they've brought in over $1 billion through the games in the first half of the year. To put that in perspective, Aristocrat said that the money is almost equal to their poker machine vertical.

There are no reports on whether those who will receive the money are going to be investing in buying the Brooklyn Bridge or whether they'll secure online love from a Nigerian prince looking to gift their million-dollar fortune.

About the author

Dustin Jermalowicz // News Editor
Dustin Jermalowicz
Dustin has a long-standing passion for gambling. He has been writing professionally on the subject and breaking industry news for Casino Listings since 2011. His favorite casino games include Blackjack, Poker, and Hi/Lo. A proud native of Detroit, Dustin currently lives in Michigan.
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usbarbadosslim93 Recently online: 9 min ago
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27 May 2020 - 3:49pm
#1

Wait, what? I mean... what?!? People are f-ing morons, I swear.

auCL-Ed
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28 May 2020 - 1:35am
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Despite the idiocy of the players, a court in Washington State ruled that Big Fish's virtual chips constituted illegal gambling and players filed class-action suits soon after.

If I was drinking now I'd be snorting it through my nostrils. 😂

I cannot understand why anyone would pay money to play fun mode slots where they can't win anything. I can't even understand why Aristocrat and others would think it was a good idea to try in the first place. I'm genuinely baffled by this, but I suppose the numbers don't lie. It shows what I know!

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bgsharpe
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28 May 2020 - 6:18pm
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Despite the idiocy of the players..

So where or toward what all the fines sums going...I guess not in those idiots pockets...otherwise they 'd be a very happy idiots...after all😀

But isn't the main issue that there's an option in general to buy whatever when it's about a free game...?!

Those guys could of been just stupid,drunk, high or all three but if there's such option I guess there would be other cases like that in future...just a guess...