Michigan Gaming Control Board hits 64.1% compliance rate on illegal gambling site orders
259 illegal gambling sites have gotten cease-and-desist letters since 2024, with 166 complying, the MGCB says.
Key takeaways
- 01259 illegal online gambling sites have received cease-and-desist letters since mid-2024, and 166 have complied, a 64.1% compliance rate.
- 02Between Oct. 1, 2022, and Oct. 31, 2026, 281 locations removed 682 illegal gaming machines after getting MGCB letters.
- 03Joint MGCB and Michigan Attorney General investigations have produced 146 convictions, 1,824 seized machines and $598,524.98 in seized cash since 2015.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board said its two-year campaign against illegal gambling operators has reached a 64.1% compliance rate on cease-and-desist letters, a milestone the agency is marking during Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, Nov. 9-13. The crackdown affects offshore sportsbooks, sweepstakes casinos and unlicensed prediction markets that have targeted Michigan residents.
“We will keep at it until illegal operators understand that Michigan is off-limits.”
The compliance rate has climbed to 64.1%, up from the roughly 50% the agency reported at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in October 2025.
How the numbers add up
Since the MGCB began targeting offshore sites in mid-2024, 259 illegal online gambling sites have received cease-and-desist letters, and 166 have complied, according to the board. MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams credited the agency’s investigators and analysts, along with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, for the results.
Key enforcement milestones
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | First offshore order, to Bovada, which left Michigan within 14 days |
| April 2026 | A 45-operator sweep, the largest four-month action in the program’s history |
| October 2026 | More than 30 offshore operators ordered out of the state |
The campaign has also moved against unlicensed sports prediction markets. In June 2026, a temporary restraining order barred KalshiEX from offering sports contracts in Michigan, and Robinhood, Coinbase and Polymarket each later agreed to stop offering sports wagering contracts to Michigan customers, the MGCB said.
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Machines and prosecutions
The enforcement isn’t limited to websites. Between Oct. 1, 2022, and Oct. 31, 2026, 281 locations offering illegal gaming machines to Michigan residents removed a total of 682 machines after receiving MGCB cease-and-desist letters. When operators don’t comply, cases move to prosecution: joint MGCB and Attorney General investigations have produced 146 convictions, 1,824 seized machines and $598,524.98 in seized cash since 2015.
A March 2026 study by analytics firm Blask ranked Michigan first among fully regulated states for channelization, the share of gambling activity going to legal operators, at about 75%, versus a roughly 62% average for the states studied, according to the MGCB.
The agency is pairing enforcement with its “Play It Safe. Bet Legal.” public awareness campaign, including new radio public service announcements, and is urging Michigan residents to confirm that an online casino or sportsbook is licensed in Michigan before placing a bet, and to report suspected illegal gambling to the MGCB.
BackgroundMichigan online casino and sports betting revenueRegulator fines and enforcement tracker
