Rise of Kingdoms Class Action Says Game Promotes Gambling

A Rise of Kingdoms class action claims that the mobile game violates gambling laws with its in-game microtransactions.

Rise of Kingdoms is a mobile game developed by Lilith Games, a developer based in Shanghai. Although the game is free to play, there are reportedly in-game purchases available to consumers.

In-game purchases, also known as microtransactions, are becoming more common due to the significant stream of income they provide to game developers.

Often times, microtransactions are based on luck of the draw. Consumers may be motivated to continue initiating microtransactions until they receive the benefit they are looking for. This is reportedly the case with Rise of Kingdoms microtransactions.

According to plaintiff Keith Coy’s recent class action, consumers are deceived about their ability to receive a solicited item or benefit which prompts them to make more purchases for the chance to receive the item or benefit.

Despite representations from the company, Rise of Kingdoms players are allegedly not guaranteed to receive the item solicited in microtransactions advertisements.

“In fact, the probability of receiving the solicited item is deceptively low, which ultimately results in a form of unlawful, unregistered, and unmonitored gambling in Defendant’s microtransaction business model,” the Rise of Kingdoms class action lawsuit claims.

Coy takes issue with several Rise of Kingdoms loot boxes, including their Wheel of Fortune. This roulette-like wheel reportedly uses in-game currency to allow players to land on one of 12 prizes. Players are allegedly motivated to purchase more “gems” in order to spin the Wheel of Fortune in the hope of gaining elite prizes.

Lilith Games reportedly takes their scheme even further by manipulating or fixing the outcomes of their gambling microtransactions in order to maximize profits. According to Coy, this behavior is unfair and unlawful under California gambling laws.

The Rise of Kingdoms class action lawsuit also notes that many players of the game are minors, meaning that they may be more likely to be manipulated by Lilith Games’ deceptive representations.

“Once entrapped, players often spend escalating amounts of money to protect their investment believing they have invested too much to quit,” the Rise of Kingdoms class action lawsuit claims. “In this way, players experience the sunk costs effect by which they may justify further purchases.”

Coy says he was manipulated into spending more than $8,000 on bundles and gems based on fraudulent representations of microtransactions.

In February, Big Fish Games faced similar claims in an illegal gambling class action lawsuit. The plaintiff alleged that the app deceives consumers into spending thousands of dollars on in-game purchases with the vague hope of winning large monetary prizes.

Did you play Rise of Kingdoms and made in-game purchases? Let us know in the comment section below.

Coy and the proposed Class are represented by Trent R. Kashima, Kevin J. Stoops, and Charles R. Ash IV of Sommers Schwartz PC.

The Rise of Kingdoms Class Action Lawsuit is Coy v. Lilith Games (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-08192, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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