Michigan Gaming Control Board Sends Cease-and-Desist Letters to 33 Unlicensed Offshore Operators
MGCB issued cease-and-desist letters to 33 offshore operators for unlicensed online casino, sweepstakes, and sports betting. The move targets risks to self-excluded players unprotected on illegal sites. AGA data shows $673.6B in annual illegal wagers, up 22% since 2022.
SCCG Take — Regulators can signal boundaries and deter some activity through targeted notices, yet the scale of offshore engagement highlights limits in enforcement reach and the need for stronger consumer education tools.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board has issued cease-and-desist letters to 33 offshore gambling operators offering unlicensed online casino games, sweepstakes-style products, and sports betting to state residents. The action underscores the board’s focus on protecting participants in Michigan’s self-exclusion program, who lack safeguards on unregulated platforms.
As reported by CDC Gaming, the MGCB determined each targeted operator provided these services without a required state license. The letters named entities including Azartzona Casino, Basepoker, BingoMania, BitofGold, Cryptoplay, Del Oro Casino, Detective Slots, Donbet, Exclusive Casino, Genie Jackpot, Guangzhou Snail Interactive Technology Co., Ltd., Immersion Casino Online, iWild Casino, JacksPay, Jurassic Slots, L0tt0, Lucky Charm Sweep, Lucky Rebel, Magicianbet, mBit Casino, Odds Maker, Raging Bull Slots, Regal Casino and Sportsbook (also known as Wager Street), Ronin Slots, Runewager, Slot Paradise, Sloto Tribe, Sloto’Cash Online Casino, Spin Dinero, SpinsTopia, Stardust, SunnySpins Casino, and The Online Casino.
Targeted Enforcement and Player Protections
The MGCB warned that self-excluded individuals can still access and fund accounts on these offshore sites, often unaware they fall outside state oversight. Licensed operators must honor the Internet Gaming and Sports Betting Responsible Gaming Database, but offshore platforms have no such duty.
MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said: “Choosing to self-exclude is one of the hardest and most courageous decisions a person can make, and in Michigan’s legal market, that choice is respected. Offshore sites don’t respect it. They will take a deposit from someone who has asked for help and the MGCB has no way to help that person get it back.” Williams added that the letters place operators on notice that Michigan residents are not an untapped market.
Scale of the Illegal Market and Enforcement Limits
National research cited by the board points to widespread offshore activity. An August 2025 analysis by the American Gaming Association found Americans wager $673.6 billion annually with illegal and unregulated operators, including offshore sites. That illegal market has grown 22% since the prior 2022 report, fueled by increased illegal online casino play.
The share of online-casino players using only legal sites fell from 52% in 2022 to 24%, with nearly half now using both legal and illegal platforms. Sports betting figures show $84 billion wagered illegally, with one in 10 sports bettors using only illegal sources. Earlier research indicated 70% of those primarily betting with illegal operators believed their activity was legal.
This enforcement step reveals a core limitation: the MGCB lacks direct recourse to recover funds or block access for self-excluded players on offshore sites. While the letters signal active monitoring, the volume of illegal wagering suggests sustained challenges in fully containing offshore supply.
Reporting: CDC Gaming
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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