This is unlike other mobile games that give players the option of a paywall or to wait a certain amount of time to play after losing lives or credits.
In 'social casino' games like the ones made by Big Fish Games, there's no way to accumulate more chips unless you win them by wagering chips you already have, or by buying more, the lawsuit said. After the chips run out, players can't play anymore unless they buy chips through in-app offers or micro-transactions that start at 99 cents but can run up to hundreds or thousands of dollars. The games start players off with a free, finite set of virtual chips they can use for slot machine and other casino-style games, the complaint said.
District Court in Western Washington, said that Big Fish Games, Inc., an app developer that makes 'free-to-play' online casino games, used practices similar to casinos to 'reap huge profits' while never paying out anything of monetary value. A class action lawsuit was filed against Seattle-based Big Fish Games alleging they used illegal gambling practices in their mobile apps.
