Big Fish $155 Million Settlement Finalized by Federal Judge, Says Aristocrat
Posted on: March 2, 2021, 04:27h.
Last updated on: March 2, 2021, 04:52h.
Australian slot machine giant Aristocrat Gaming announced to the ASX Tuesday that a US federal judge in Washington state has given final approval to a $31 million settlement of two class-action lawsuits related to its Big Fish social casino platform.
That’s good news for the plaintiffs in the suits, the small fry taking on the Big Fish. They’re former players of the social casino site who claimed that they were the victims of predatory illegal gambling games. It’s not so good for Big Fish’s current owner, Aristocrat. Nor for former Big Fish Games owner Churchill Downs, which is on the hook for around $124 million.
The $155 million figure at least will come as no surprise to the two companies, which reached an agreement in principle to settle in May last year. The final sign-off came two weeks ago from the US Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Something of Value?
Aristocrat purchased Big Fish from Kentucky-based Churchill Downs in 2017 for $900 million, three years after Churchill had acquired the formerly independent games studio.
As part of the settlement, Seattle-based Big Fish agreed to establish a voluntary self-exclusion policy and to change the game’s mechanics so that players who run out of virtual chips can continue playing without having to buy more.
Both Aristocrat and Churchill continue to deny that the Big Fish platform ever broke Washington state gambling laws.
Crucially, Judge Milan D. Smith disagreed when he delivered his shock March 2018 ruling that the virtual play chips used in the games constituted “something of value,” despite their lack of direct monetary worth.
Shockwaves for Games Industry
Smith’s interpretation meant that the play-money games fell into the classification of gambling, which Washington state defines as “risking something of value on the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person’s control or influence to receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.” ??
All previous attempts to sue social games developers for offering “illegal gambling” had been laughed out of court.
Smith’s ruling had huge ramifications for the social games industry, and not just games that aped casino slots. Any game that included chance-based mechanics and in-game microtransactions could now be seen to violate the law.
That could prove to be a problem for a state like Washington with a thriving video games development sector. In fact, two Washington lawmakers have introduced a bill that seeks to safeguard the state’s 20-percent share of the global industry and protect it from future lawsuits.
State Rep. Zach Hudgins’s (D-11th) and State Sen. Mark Mullet’s (D-5th) legislation would modify state gambling law to exempt games where players do not cash out for real money.
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Last Comments ( 142 )
M&B Hi! Hope all is well.. Looks like great news what you posted.. I get mine in the mail but I will check my mailbox everyday and keep y'all posted.. I'll also will keep checking this comment website.. Thank u for the update..ttys!
@Brandie- I just read that someone posted on Reddit about the 20% pay out from Bigfish. He said he received 26% payout via Venmo today. I’m not sure if that was true but that’s what it said. Did anyone else received payment via direct deposit or Venmo today?
Hello y'all! Does anyone know if there's a chance that we may be awarded more than the 20 percent supplemental payment that was put on hold? Also, I'm wondering will any moneys be taken out of our remaining 20 percent supplemental payment to supply those that appealed the initial claim? I hope we get awarded more than the 20 percent.. also please write a comment if anyone has any updates on anything ok.. I've been checking the bf administration website for any recent updates but nothing has been posted.. what y'all think about my questions and comments? Ttys..stay safe and blessed!
I got 3000 bucks 3 months ago, i’m not sure exactly how much I spent but I had a lot of money inheritance so I probably blew about eight grand got three back it’s better than nothing it was a tier 10.
Colleen- Thank you so much for the information. Hopefully we do get the extra cash :) for Christmas gifts.
I heard individuals who had challenges were sent an email with their payment amount and that those payments, as well as supplemental payments, will go out November 5th
@ Colleen - Thank you please let me know when you hear anything. God bless! Take care everyone!
M&B- Haven’t heard anything as of yet. I believe October 4th is the date Judge has to make final decision on those claims in question. Thinking we will hear something a week or two after.
Has anyone gotten an email from Bigfish
@LMN- I know how you feel. I feel so bad for the people who are still hooked in playing BigFish and still spending real money perhaps the money from the settlement. I’m so happy that I stopped playing. Take care everyone!
@Brandie- Thank you for the info too. Stay safe and god Bless!
Colleen- Thank you for the info :)
Forgot to add: I'm too, part of this lawsuit! I really don't understand how a online casino can dupe Customer's. SHAME ON YOU ARISTOCRAT.
They are still scamming people's money! I was banned from JMS of course spending over 54k. Was I stupid! This is how it's set up now. Seems to be that you have to buy that piggy bank to play. Sneaky! That's what this lawsuit was about. Still scamming people's money to lose! I hope they get shut down they deserve it! SCAM ARTISTS ILLEGAL GAMING PRACTICES!
M & B..Hi.. no you don't have to do anything for the remaining settlement amount, which should be disbursed after Judge approves any challenges that are pending; court papers said In Beginning of by October, Judge will review challenges, etc.. it's on the bf settlement website.. Stay safe and blessed!