Michigan regulator sends cease-and-desist letters to 33 offshore gambling operators

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has sent cease-and-desist letters to 33 offshore gambling operators it says were illegally offering online casino games, sweepstakes-style games, and sports betting to Michigan residents, the MGCB said Oct. 8, 2026. The regulator said players who have signed up for the state’s self-exclusion programs are not protected once they go to an unlicensed site.

They will take a deposit from someone who has asked for help, and the MGCB has no way to help that person get it back.

Who was targeted

The letters went to the operators of Azartzona Casino, Basepoker, BingoMania, BitofGold, Cryptoplay, Del Oro Casino, Detective Slots, Donbet, Exclusive Casino, Genie Jackpot, Guangzhou Snail Interactive Technology Co., Ltd., Immersion Casino Online, iWild Casino, JacksPay, Jurassic Slots, L0tt0, Lucky Charm Sweep, Lucky Rebel, Magicianbet, mBit Casino, Odds Maker, Raging Bull Slots, Regal Casino and Sportsbook (also known as Wager Street), Ronin Slots, Runewager, Slot Paradise, Sloto Tribe, Sloto’Cash Online Casino, Spin Dinero, SpinsTopia, Stardust, SunnySpins Casino, and The Online Casino. MGCB investigations determined each was offering casino-style games, sweepstakes-style games, or sports betting to Michigan residents without a state license, according to the MGCB.

The self-exclusion gap

Licensed Michigan operators must honor the Internet Gaming and Sports Betting Responsible Gaming Database, which lets people voluntarily ban themselves from online gambling. Offshore operators have no such obligation, the MGCB said, meaning a person who has self-excluded can still open an account, deposit money and place bets on an unlicensed site. The MGCB said offshore players also have no access to deposit limits or other responsible gaming tools, no independent testing to ensure games are fair, no protection for personal and financial information under Michigan’s regulatory standards, and no recourse through the MGCB if winnings are withheld or an account is closed.

“Choosing to self-exclude is one of the hardest and most courageous decisions a person can make, and in Michigan’s legal market, that choice is respected,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams, according to the MGCB. “Offshore sites don’t respect it.”

Enforcement history

Today’s announcement builds on prior MGCB action. In April 2026, the MGCB said it had sent cease-and-desist letters to 45 offshore operators over a four-month period. Under the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Lawful Sports Betting Act, and related state statutes, companies must be licensed by the MGCB to offer internet gaming or sports wagering in Michigan, the regulator said. Operators that ignore cease-and-desist directives may face additional enforcement action in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, according to the MGCB.

The MGCB cited an August 2025 analysis by the American Gaming Association, which found Americans wager $673.6 billion each year with illegal and unregulated gambling operators, including offshore sites, with the illegal market growing 22% since the AGA’s 2022 report. The same AGA study found the share of online casino players using only legal sites dropped from 52% in 2022 to 24%, while Americans placed an estimated $84 billion in bets with illegal bookies and offshore sportsbooks in the year the study covered. Earlier AGA consumer research found 70% of sports bettors who placed most of their wagers with illegal operators believed they were betting only with legal sportsbooks, or splitting bets evenly between legal and illegal ones.

How to check a site

Before placing a bet, players can confirm a site is licensed by checking the list of authorized online gaming and sports betting platforms at Michigan.gov/MGCB, the regulator said. Residents who encounter an illegal gambling website can report it by emailing MIGamblingTip@michigan.gov or calling the MGCB’s anonymous tip line at 1-888-314-2682.