Connecticut’s suspension of High 5 Games sparks wider regulatory scrutiny

The recent suspension of High 5 Games’ licence by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) has had a pretty significant impact on the U.S. online gambling industry as a whole—and this unprecedented action raises questions about potential ramifications in other states.

The move has also rattled many affiliates, asking how it may affect them—and whether authorities will begin coming after others within the industry.

Connecticut’s crackdown on High 5 Games

On 14 March 2025, the Connecticut DCP issued a summary suspension of High 5 Games’ licence, citing the operation of an unlicensed online casino, High 5 Casino. Despite being a licensed service provider supplying content to legal platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings, High 5 Games allegedly misled consumers by marketing High 5 Casino as a legal entity.

The DCP’s investigation revealed that approximately 1,100 Connecticut customers deposited funds on the unlicensed platform, with 911 individuals collectively losing nearly $938,000. To make matters worse, 108 of these users were on the state’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion List, and their losses totalled nearly $300,000!

When these findings were uncovered, the DCP announced its intention to try and reclaim the lost wagers for consumers, while also pursuing a whopping 1,065 criminal charges against High 5 Games for illegal gaming activities. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.

Potential spillover effects in other states

Connecticut’s decisive action has already caught the attention of regulators in other jurisdictions, too. States such as New York are closely monitoring the situation, especially given High 5 Games’ operations within their borders. New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo expressed concern over companies offering both licensed and unregulated products at the same time, claiming it’s “somewhat unfair” and emphasising the need for ethical practices in the industry.

Senator Addabbo went on to state: “For the safety of New Yorkers, I think we should take a hard stance.”

The DCP’s move comes at a time where there’s already a pretty intense national conversation about the regulation of sweepstakes casinos, and, at the time of writing, at least six other jurisdictions are considering bringing in legislation to target sweepstakes operators.

Implications for affiliate marketers

For affiliate marketers operating in the online gaming sector, Connecticut’s enforcement actions are a worrying development, there’s no denying that. While most were under the impression that High 5 Games was operating legitimately, ignoreness is no excuse under the law—and those promoting unlicensed or non-compliant operators may themselves face legal repercussions.

It’s an important reminder that affiliates targeting the U.S. market need to be proactively staying informed of regulatory developments and doing increasingly rigorous due-diligence. Affiliates currently targeting Americans should reassess their current partnerships—and promotional strategies—to ensure they’re working with compliant and reputable operators.

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