Play Social Casino Apps in These States? You Might Qualify for a Refund

A leading social casino app developer has agreed to a $3.2 million settlement that allows consumers in certain states to recover money they spent purchasing virtual chips on its mobile games. But the clock for class members to file a claim is quickly approaching its end.

Filed in Alabama’s Franklin County Circuit Court, the lawsuit, White, et al. v. Playstudios, alleged Playstudios violated state gambling laws by selling virtual currency that allowed players to continue playing its mobile casino games once their free credits ran dry.

In July, Playstudios denied all claims but agreed to a $3.2 million settlement to avoid further litigation.  

The settlement class includes anyone in Alabama, Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Kentucky who spent money on Playstudios apps during the time periods below.

• Alabama: March 8, 2022, through June 30, 2026
• Ohio: July 26, 2022, through June 30, 2026
• New Jersey: January 2, 2024, through June 30, 2026
• Massachusetts: July 26, 2022, through June 30, 2026
• Tennessee: November 12, 2022, through June 30, 2026
• Kentucky: July 5, 2018, through June 29, 2023

Class members can submit how they would like to receive compensation. Valid election forms, which can be completed at this website, ask class members if they wish to receive their benefits in payment, virtual currency, or both.

Clock Ticking

Consumers who downloaded and made purchases in the qualifying states have until Oct. 21, 2026, to submit their election forms. Entries are accepted online and by mail.

Qualifying Playstudios games involved in the class action settlement include myVEGAS, myVEGAS Facebook, myVEGAS Mobile, Pop! Slots, myKONAMI Slots, MGM Slots Live, myVEGAS Blackjack, and myVEGAS Bingo. Class members who participate in the settlement forfeit their rights to any future claims against Playstudios regarding the matter.

Class members who do not file an election form will receive their benefits in virtual currency. Those who exclude themselves from the settlement through an election form will receive no benefits but retain their rights to sue Playstudios.

Pay to Play, Not Win

Social gaming apps are free-to-play, with users being afforded daily credits. Once those credits are used, consumers can purchase additional tokens to continue their gameplay.

However, unlike sweepstakes casinos, where a secondary currency, often called sweeps coins, can be played for credits that are able to be withdrawn for cash, tokens in social gaming apps carry no real-world cash value.

Playstudios had asked the court to dismiss the Alabama lawsuit on the defense that the apps are not gambling systems but legal, free, social entertainment. The company later agreed to settle.