High 5 Games Virtual Coins Settlement — Do You Qualify?

A proposed settlement would resolve Larsen v. PTT, LLC d/b/a High 5 Games, LLC and High 5 Entertainment, LLC, No. 3:18-cv-05275-TMC, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Plaintiff Rick Larsen alleges that the defendants' operation of the High 5 Casino and High 5 Vegas social casino applications, including the sale of virtual coins, violated Washington gambling law and the Washington Consumer Protection Act. The defendants deny all claims and deny violating any law. High 5 Games develops and operates social casino games. Players use virtual coins to play casino-style games, but the applications and their coin systems are governed by the platforms' terms rather than by a physical casino's chip-redemption process. The case alleges that money spent on virtual coins amounted to money lost on unlawful gambling games under Washington law. "Virtual coins" are the in-app units used to play. The settlement does not tell readers that every purchase was unlawful in every state. It concerns the defined Washington class and the claims litigated in this case. This matter proceeded further than a typical pretrial settlement. The official notice states that a jury returned a verdict in the plaintiff's favor. The parties then agreed to settle while further litigation about the verdict, possible appeals, and payment remained possible. A jury verdict is a decision by jurors after trial. The proposed settlement sets the terms for resolving the class claims, but final approval is still required before the agreement becomes effective and distributions can begin. The class includes individuals who played or purchased virtual coins on High 5 Casino or High 5 Vegas in Washington after April 9, 2014 and before October 1, 2022. It also includes people reasonably associated with Washington purchases through billing addresses, IP addresses, or information supplied by app-platform providers. Excluded groups include the assigned judges and their families, the defendants and specified related entities and personnel, people who validly opt out, and legal representatives, successors, or assigns of excluded people. Only class members who purchased virtual coins and file valid claims are eligible for cash. Playing without buying coins can place someone within the class definition, but the payment formula depends on qualifying purchase amounts. Claim shares depend on the claimant's total qualifying purchases, the number of valid claims, and the amount that ultimately reaches the fund. The official notice does not state a guaranteed percentage or fixed payment for any claimant. The defendants agreed to contribute at least $12 million and potentially up to $30 million over a multi-year period. The notice describes an initial $4 million payment, followed by annual payments of at least $1 million for as many as eight years. Additional contingent payments may be required based on annual net income or a qualifying liquidity event, such as a transaction that creates funds under the agreement. Because funding and distributions occur over time, approved claimants may receive more than one payment. The settlement fund also pays court-approved attorneys' fees and costs, administration expenses, and any approved incentive award. Class counsel said it would seek no more than 35 percent of the fund plus unreimbursed costs, and Rick Larsen may seek up to $15,000, subject to court approval. If a claimant's share in a distribution is less than $10, it is held for a future round until the cumulative amount reaches at least $10. Checks expire 90 days after issuance. Uncashed or unprocessed funds may be used for another distribution or donated as provided by the agreement. The agreement also requires operational changes. The defendants agreed to maintain a voluntary self-exclusion policy, provide ways for players to restrict or stop virtual- coin purchases, suspend or close accounts, and allow a player who runs out of coins to continue playing at least one game without buying more. These measures are separate from a claimant's cash share. The official long-form notice originally listed November 13, 2026 deadlines and a December 14 hearing. The court later granted an order continuing settlement deadlines by 52 days. The current official homepage controls for reader action and lists January 4, 2027 as the deadline to file a claim, opt out, or object, and February 8, 2027 as the final approval hearing date. Readers should rely on the current official site and check it again because deadlines and hearing dates may be modified. Remaining in the class releases the covered claims if the settlement becomes final, whether or not the person files a claim. The notice also says class members will be barred from contending that virtual coins in these applications are "things of value" under Washington law for the released claims. Opting out preserves individual rights but gives up settlement benefits. Objecting means staying in the class while asking the court to reject or change the agreement. Doing nothing yields no payment and does not avoid the release.

Valid claimants receive a proportional share based partly on qualifying purchase totals, the number of valid claims, and the amount ultimately paid into the fund. The fund begins with $4 million, includes annual payments of at least $1 million for up to eight years, and may grow through income-based or liquidity-event payments to as much as $30 million. No fixed percentage or minimum claimant recovery is promised. Payments may arrive in multiple rounds. Shares below $10 in a given round are held until the cumulative amount reaches at least $10. Court-approved fees, costs, administration, and any representative award are paid from the fund.