DraftKings Slapped With $19K Fine in Connecticut for Unwinnable Slot Game

Posted on: September 3, 2024, 03:17h. 

Last updated on: September 3, 2024, 03:17h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

DraftKings has been fined $19,000 in Connecticut for operating an online slot game that players said was unwinnable.

DraftKings online slot Connecticut Foxwoods
Foxwoods Resort Casino’s iGaming partner, DraftKings, has been fined $19,000 for operating an online slot in Connecticut that had a 0% payout rate. DraftKings says the game’s developer was to blame. (Image: Shutterstock)

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) said it fielded numerous complaints from online gamblers regarding DraftKings’ internet casino. The many grievances alleged that Deal or No Deal Banker’s Bonanza was not meeting regulatory conditions or paying out the advertised 95 cents on every dollar wagered.

State gaming officials investigated to determine if the interactive slot title wasn’t programmed correctly. DraftKings was also looking into the matter and discovered that the game’s developer — White Hat Gaming — had accidentally set the game’s payout rate to zero.

Gamblers reported spinning the game hundreds of times and not experiencing even a single win. DraftKings and White Hat subsequently fixed the payout rate to 95% and the game is back online.

DraftKings is the iGaming and retail and online sportsbook partner of Foxwoods and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Rival FanDuel is the iGaming and sports betting partner of the Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Sun.

The Connecticut Lottery operates retail and online sports betting with Fanatics, but the state’s 2021 gaming expansion did not authorize the lottery to run online casino games.

Isolated Incident

DraftKings said the payout glitch for Deal or No Deal Banker’s Bonanza was limited to its online operations in Connecticut. The company said it returned $23,909 in wagers to players who bet on the game while it was not operating as intended.

The DCP, which regulates gambling in Connecticut, said it additionally fined DraftKings $19,000 for the malfunction. The state gaming agency also took issue with DraftKings failing to inform the regulator in a timely manner about the game’s programming error.

DCP officials said DraftKings became aware of the matter in early August but didn’t notify the state until Aug. 31. White Hat was fined $3,500 for the incident.

Our customers’ satisfaction and the integrity of our products are central to our success.  We have robust measures to monitor potential payout issues, and we investigate any concerns promptly,” DraftKings said in a statement.

“In the event of a game not functioning as intended, we ensure impacted customers are appropriately refunded,” the company added.

Industry Leader

White Hat Gaming says Deal or No Deal Banker’s Bonanza has a return to player rate of 94.95%. The 5×6 interactive reel has a minimum bet of a penny and a maximum bet of $50.

The online slot is one of more than 300 games offered by the DraftKings online casino in Connecticut. Along with slots, the iGaming platform has interactive table games with live dealers.

Anyone aged 21 and older who is physically located in Connecticut can play the online casino games. The iGaming operation is also accessible from on-property at Foxwoods, meaning guests don’t need to venture down to the physical gaming floor to test their luck.

White Hat Gaming is based in Malta and has developed over 3,000 interactive games. Along with DraftKings, the company’s clients include FanDuel, BetMGM, Bally’s Interactive, and Caesars Sportsbook.

White Hat games are available in all seven states that have legal iGaming. Along with Connecticut, they are Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.