Churchill Downs is seeking the dismissal of a suit in federal court claiming that the social games it offers through Big Fish Gaming are the same as illegal online gambling.
Churchill Downs acquired Seattle-based Big Fish Gaming earlier this year for $835 million. The site offers social games and generates some revenue by selling players extra virtual credits to play games.
A lawsuit filed in Seattle earlier this year by Michigan resident Cheryl Kater seeks to recoup losses of $1,000 she incurred while playing at the site. Churchill has responded by claiming that the Washington State Gaming Commission had ruled that the social games are not gambling because players cannot win money or tangible reward at the Big Fish Casino.
Seattle-based Big Fish has 580 employees and has distributed more than 2.5 billion games to mobile and online customers in 150 countries from a catalog of more than of 450 mobile games and more than 3,500 personal computer games, the company says.
