Michigan regulator sends 33 offshore gambling cease-and-desist letters
Michigan’s gaming regulator said on 8 October it sent cease-and-desist letters to 33 offshore operators, arguing unlicensed sites leave self-excluded residents outside the state’s responsible-gaming protections.
Conceptual illustration of gambling cease-and-desist action and self-exclusion enforcement. AI-generated conceptual illustration. Does not depict the actual people or event. Credit: iGaming News Desk
On 8 October, the Michigan Gaming Control Board said it had issued cease-and-desist letters to 33 offshore gambling operators that it found were illegally offering online casino games, sweepstakes-style games and sports betting to Michigan residents. [1]
The regulator framed the action around player protection as well as market legality. In its announcement, the MGCB said people who enrol in Michigan’s self-exclusion programmes are not protected on unlicensed sites because licensed operators in the state must honour the Internet Gaming and Sports Betting Responsible Gaming Database, while offshore operators have no such obligation. [1]
MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said the board was targeting operators that ignore Michigan’s player protections. He said offshore sites can still accept deposits from people who have asked for help and that the board has no way to recover that money for them, adding that the 33 letters were intended to put operators on notice over access to Michigan residents. [1]
The board’s public guidance says only operators licensed by the MGCB are authorised to legally offer online gaming services in Michigan. That same page also says the board’s cease-and-desist list is not exhaustive, indicating the named operators do not represent the full universe of sites the regulator considers illegal. [2]
The announcement does not say whether any of the 33 operators has complied with the letters, left the Michigan market or challenged the action. The reviewed evidence also does not establish the ownership structure or jurisdiction of incorporation for each named operator. [1]
Sources
Prepared with AI assistance. Our editorial policy
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