The American Gaming Association (AGA) has written to the US Department of Justice demanding that it cracks down on illegal casinos, sportsbooks and other black-market gambling operations.
In a written letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the AGA detailed the threat that unregulated gambling can have on consumers, state economies and legal operators.
“While the challenge of illegal gambling is not new, the brazen and coordinated manner in which it occurs—both online and in communities—has elevated this problem to a level that requires significant federal attention,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller wrote.
“We urge the Department to make it a priority to act…to protect American consumers, crackdown on illegal operators, and enforce federal regulations.”
Demanding action to protect consumers, the AGA urged the DoJ to educate customers on legal gambling options and warn against the dangers of the illegal market.
It also urged the DoJ to open an investigation against unlicensed, offshore operators Bovada, MyBookie and BetOnline.
Finally, AGA also asked the Department to clarify that all games of skill must comply with the Johnson Act and AML standards and impose hefty sanctions on those who do not comply.
“Illegal operators have been put on notice: their days as a scourge on our nation are numbered,” Miller added. “These bad actors prey on vulnerable customers, offer no consumer protections, do not ensure integrity or fair play, and generate no economic benefit for states or tribal nations.”
