- iGaming officials from seven US states have written a joint letter to the Department of Justice, calling for a federal crackdown on illegal offshore gaming sites.
- The regulators argue that offshore sites pose significant risks to players, including lack of investment in responsible gaming, lack of age verification, and money laundering.
- Legal gaming companies warn against playing on offshore sites, as fair payouts are not guaranteed, and players have no legal recourse.
- The American Gaming Association has also called for a federal crackdown on offshore sites, citing a survey that found more than half of respondents continued to use illegal sites to place sports bets.
- The Michigan Gaming Control Board has warned players about the dangers of using illegal offshore sites, including identity and deposit theft.
“The many significant threats posed by offshore illegal gambling cannot be addressed by states alone and, therefore, require heightened federal attention and engagement.”
Leaders of regulatory agencies from seven iGaming states — including Michigan and New Jersey, two of the biggest states for online poker and casino gaming — urged the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to make investigating and prosecuting illegal offshore gaming sites a higher priority for the federal government.
Top Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Nevada regulators joined their counterparts from the two states mentioned above in signing a letter to AG Merrick Garland on April 28.
“We understand and appreciate the fact that the DOJ’s jurisdictional responsibilities are broad and, consequently, priorities vary over time,” the gaming officials wrote. “However, the many significant threats posed by offshore illegal gambling cannot be addressed by states alone and, therefore, require heightened federal attention and engagement.
“We strongly encourage the DOJ to prioritize investigation and prosecution of these offshore sites, and stand ready to provide any assistance that we can as state gaming regulators.”
