Image and Likeness of Mississippi Casinos Misused in Growing Online Gambling Scams
As U.S. gambling authorities continue battling offshore operators, sweepstakes casinos, and unregulated prediction markets — many of which operate within legal gray areas — a more troubling threat has emerged: scammers impersonating established land-based casinos to promote fake online gambling platforms.
Unlike previous issues, these scams go a step further by duplicating the branding, imagery, and likeness of well-known physical casinos to mislead users into believing they’re gambling with legitimate operators. In Mississippi, where online casinos remain illegal, this deceptive practice has become increasingly prevalent.
Fraudsters Imitate Reputable Casinos to Lure Victims
Despite the legal restrictions currently in place in Mississippi, scammers continue to exploit unsuspecting players by advertising fake online casinos that appear to belong to prominent brick-and-mortar gaming brands. These fraudulent sites often use the names, logos, and images of well-known establishments to gain the trust of potential victims.
Chett Harrison, General Manager and Vice President of the Golden Nugget in Mississippi, has raised alarms about the severity of these scams. “It’s difficult,” Harrison said. “I’ve looked at some of them and couldn’t even tell the email address was different until I took a closer look.” He emphasized that even industry professionals can fall for these sophisticated schemes if they don’t carefully inspect what they’re looking at.
The deceptive platforms usually promise unrealistic incentives — such as $1,500 just for signing up — to quickly capture attention and create a false sense of trust. Harrison cautioned that if something seems too good to be true, it likely is.
He also pointed out that in states where online gambling is permitted, players must download a licensed app. Simply visiting a website and entering personal information does not align with how real money gambling is regulated.
Beyond Money: Scammers Seek Personal Data
These scams aren’t just about stealing deposits. According to Harrison, the scammers are equally — if not more — interested in gathering personal and financial information from unsuspecting users. Once collected, this data can be used for identity theft, unauthorized transactions, or sold on the black market.
The biggest danger lies in the trust many users place in familiar brands. While real casinos would never knowingly allow their names to be misused, fraudsters are quick to replicate assets and launch multiple overlapping scams to reach as many people as possible.
Harrison’s advice: Always double-check before engaging with any online gambling platform, especially in states like Mississippi where online casinos remain illegal. Verifying the legitimacy of a site or email can be the difference between safe entertainment and becoming the next victim of fraud.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com
