Solitaire Game Promoted By Stephen A. Smith Agrees To Multi-Million Dollar Class Action Settlement

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Nadia Zomorodian/News - iStockphoto-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


Papaya Gaming, the company behind gaming app Solitaire Cash, has agreed to a multi-million-dollar class action settlement over claims that it misled players. Despite the settlement, the company does not admit it did anything wrong.

The company was recently in the news when it hired ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith, Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky, Laura Rutledge, and Kendrick Perkins to promote their game. Kimes would later apologize for not vetting the promotion. Rutledge and Orlovsky also quickly deleted their social media posts promoting the game.

In addition to Solitaire Cash, Papaya Gaming is also the creator of Bubble Cash, Bingo Cash, 21 Cash and Triple Match Cash. A class action lawsuit filed against Papaya Gaming alleged the company misled players into believing their matches were skill-based when they were not.

According to PokerScout, “Papaya initially denied the allegations while simultaneously arguing that even if it was using bots, there was no harm and no misrepresentation taking place.” Judge Denise Cote disagreed.

“Papaya’s advertising led customers to make pointed inquiries about Papaya using bots and to fling angry accusations at Papaya did not respond to the inquiries and accusations by acknowledging bot usage, but by denial […] Papaya executives modified its bots’ performance to make bot profiles appear more human so that fewer users would detect their usage going forward,” she wrote in her refusal to dismiss the lawsuit.

How to get your piece of the Papaya Gaming settlement

Papaya Gaming has now agreed to pay $15 million in a settlement. Top Class Action reports the settlement applies to “individuals who had a Papaya account and made a deposit in one or more Papaya apps, including Solitaire Cash, between Jan. 1, 2019, and Sept. 5, 2024.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Papaya does not admit any wrongdoing. Individuals who qualify for a piece of the settlement may either receive a cash payment or an in-game cash distribution. The amount each user will receive varies.

The settlement website states, “Submitting a valid claim form is the only way you can receive a cash payment or In-Game Cash distribution if you do not have an Active Papaya Account. If you have an Active Papaya Account, you can receive an In-Game Cash distribution without submitting a claim form.” The claim deadline is January 30, 2026.

Douglas Charles headshot avatar BroBible
Douglas Charles is a Senior Editor for BroBible with two decades of expertise writing about sports, science, and pop culture with a particular focus on the weird news and events that capture the internet's attention. He is a graduate from the University of Iowa.
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