The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) issued another round cease and desist orders to a group of unlicensed offshore casino operators.
The MGCB sent cease and desist orders to 11 offshore iGaming operators that it claims are accepting customers in the Wolverine State without adhering to required consumer protection and fair play standards. The MGCB took particular issue with the sites offering digital wallets and cryptocurrencies as payment methods.
Michigan’s gaming regulator also alleged the offshore operators to offer data protection to players, which is also required for licensed gaming operators.
“This should serve as a strong warning to illegal operators: Michigan does not tolerate unauthorized gambling activity,” said MGCB executive director Henry Williams. “We will continue our relentless pursuit of actively identifying and disrupting these operations.”
The operators that received cease and desist letters from the MGCB most recently include ABC Islands Casino, Cherry Jackpot, Club Player Casino, SlotsNBets, Prism Casino, Wild Vegas Casino and European operators Bookmaer.eu and VIP Slots Casino.
Costa Rica-based platforms 7 Bets Casino, NinBet Casino and PitBet must also exit.
The MGCB has given the group of offshore casinos 14 days to stop accepting Michigan customers. The regulator has notified the unlicensed platforms that a failure to comply with the cease and desist orders will result in legal action. It will work with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to pursue legal action against operators that fail to comply.
Busy month for Michigan’s gaming regulator
The MGCB has spent the last year cracking down on offshore operators in the state.
Earlier this month, the regulator issued 13 cease and desist orders to offshore operators for offering slots, table games and video poker without proper licensing. The unlicensed sites were accused of using “deceptive” practices to acquire and retain Michigan customers.
The MGCB has also recently ordered several sweepstakes operators to exit the state.
