A Washington state woman has filed a federal lawsuit against Turkish game developer Dream Games Teknoloji Anonim Şirket. She alleges that its popular mobile game, Royal Match, violates state gambling laws.
On August 8, Plaintiff Janna Schudde filed a class action lawsuit in a Washington federal court. The lawsuit is against Dream Games Teknoloji Anonim Şirketi. She alleges multiple violations of state law.
The lawsuit of Schudde claims that the mobile game, Royal Match is addictive, and also manipulates players into buying virtual gold coins to keep on playing.
It has been alleged by Schudde that Royal Match is designed to maximize addiction by manipulating the probability of success, tempting players to spend more money.
According to her claim, Dream Games exploits psychological triggers likely to those used by casino operators to encourage excessive spending in the game.
The lawsuit states that Schudde lost over $900 in early 2024 on the game. Under Washington state law, she alleges constitutes illegal gambling.
Gambling involves risking something of value on the outcome of a game of chance or a future event beyond one’s control, based on the expectation that the person or someone else will receive something of value if a specific outcome occurs.
The lawsuit of Schudde argues that Royal Match meets this definition, as players wager virtual gold coins. Players can purchase these coins with real money to obtain additional moves and lives in the game.
A 2018 ruling by the Ninth Circuit in the case of Kater v. Churchill Downs Inc., found that Big Fish Casino, another mobile game, constituted illegal gambling under Washington law. The lawsuit draws parallels to this. The virtual chips in Big Fish Casino were things of value as determined by the court. This is because they extended the right to play the game. The lawsuit filed by Schudde also argues that the gold coins in Royal Match are items of value.
