Amazon settles class action over social casino apps for $200m-plus

Amazon has reached a settlement in a long-running class action lawsuit tied to social casino apps distributed through its app store, according to iGaming Expert. Members of the class action could collectively receive more than $200m as a result.

The case centred on virtual casino chips sold within social casino apps available on Amazon's platform. Plaintiffs argued that these transactions breached the Consumer Protection Act and Washington state gambling law, treating the sale of in-app chips as an illegal gambling product rather than a simple virtual good.

The lawsuit had dragged on for some time before this settlement was reached, closing out one of the more significant legal challenges to how social casino apps operate on major app stores. For players who spend real money on virtual chips in social casino apps, the case is a reminder that these products can carry real legal weight, even when no cash payout is offered in return.