The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) sent a series of cease-and-desist orders to a group of gambling operators, including a controversial social online poker platform.
On Friday, the ADG announced that it has issued C&D orders to five operators for various violations. The violations include the illicit promotion of gambling, illegal control of an enterprise, and money laundering. The operators that received the notices include:
- BetOpenly
- Bookmaker
- ClubWPT Online Poker
- Kutt Inc.
- Raffle Creator
“Arizona is taking decisive action against illegal gambling operators that put Arizonans at risk,” said ADG Director Jackie Johnson. “Through these cease-and-desist orders we are putting operators on notice: their conduct runs contrary to Arizona law and they must stop promoting illegal gambling.”
The ADG’s C&D orders to the five operators direct the companies to immediately shutter all gambling operations in Arizona whether through online or mobile devices.
If the operators fail to comply with the orders, the ADG may consider filing criminal or civil action against “entities, principals, and employees. . .” The gambling brands are also “subject to a potential award of restitution to those who lost money.” The forfeiture of all monies recieved while conducting illegal gaming is also on the table for the five operators.
Busy year for Arizona’s gaming regulator
Since 2025, the ADG has sent C&D orders to more than 10 gambling operators. The orders were sent for operating without a gaming license and providing sweepstakes casino games.
Other operators that received C&D orders from the ADG:
- Stake.us
- High 5 Casino
- ARB Gaming, LCC
- MyBookie
- Generiz
ClubWPT Online Poker continues to face pushback
ClubWPT’s C&D order from the ADG adds to concerns regarding the operation of the social poker site in markets across North America. The ADG is calling for ClubWPT to exit the state for allegedly allowing consumers under the age of 21 to use the platform to “engage in pay-to-play online poker tournaments for prizes.” The regulator also accuses the platform of using deceptive “no purchase necessary” language tied to sweepstakes.
In addition to the underage and deceptive language allegations, the ADG also takes issues with ClubWPT’s operations as the state prohibits online poker.
ClubWPT the attention of the ADG as the company maintains that it “operates under applicable sweepstakes laws.” The regulator considers the statement to be fraudulent and misleading as ClubWPT attempts to disguise its online poker operations as sweepstakes.
In its C&D, the ADG addressed the sweepstakes issue.
“The poker is not legal and the attempt to disguise your conduct as a ‘sweepstakes’ fails. ‘Sweepstakes’ is not a defined term under Arizona law, there are no ‘sweepstakes’ laws or rules, and there is no exception from the illegal gambling statutes for conduct labeled ‘sweepstakes,’” said ADG Chief Law Enforcement Officer Douglas Jensen in the order.
ClubWPT’s designation as a sweepstakes operator led the platform to shift its operational presence amid regulatory and legal actions prohibiting sweepstakes casinos.
The platform has made operational changes on a state-by-state basis. In California, ClubWPT revamped its product to only allow players to play in tournaments and cash games. Meanwhile, it reentered New York after a brief exit following Gov. Kathy Hochul signing a bill that prohibits the operation of sweepstakes casinos in the Empire State.
As of July 2026, ClubWPT operates in more than 20 U.S. markets.
