The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued a formal cease-and-desist letter to Duranbah Limited N.V., the operator of MyBookie.ag, a well-liked on-line playing platform based mostly in Curaçao. This website, which isn’t licensed to function in Michigan, provides numerous casino-style video games similar to slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps, alongside sports activities betting and horse racing choices.
Unlicensed playing and state regulation violations:
In the cease-and-desist letter, MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams highlighted the intense issues raised by MyBookie.ag’s accessibility to Michigan residents, stressing that it violates a number of state rules governing playing operations.
“Our investigation into MyBookie.ag found that their operations were accessible to Michigan citizens, which violates state laws,” Williams stated in the regulator’s press release. “We are taking strong action to uphold the principles of fair and legal gaming.”
MyBookie.ag’s operations inside Michigan come underneath scrutiny for a number of violations of state legal guidelines, together with the Lawful Internet Gaming Act and the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act. These rules stipulate that on-line gaming actions have to be performed solely by operators licensed by the MGCB or federally approved tribal casinos inside Michigan. Since MyBookie.ag just isn’t licensed in Michigan, its actions breach these important legal guidelines, which may lead to important authorized penalties for the corporate.
The MGCB’s investigation revealed that MyBookie.ag offers a variety of fee strategies for account deposits, together with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, cryptocurrencies similar to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, and even MoneyGram. However, withdrawals from the platform can solely be made utilizing Bitcoin or by way of financial institution wire switch.
Despite these fee strategies, the shortage of a legitimate Michigan playing license means MyBookie.ag is working illegally, and underneath Michigan regulation, working a playing enterprise with out correct licensing is classed as a felony. This offense carries penalties of up to 10 years in jail, fines of up to $100,000, or each.
The cease-and-desist letter mandates that Duranbah Limited N.V. stop all playing operations directed towards Michigan residents inside 14 days of receiving the discover. If the corporate fails to adjust to this directive, the MGCB has made it clear that it’s going to work with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to pursue additional authorized motion.
The MGCB has additionally issued a warning to Michigan residents, urging them to be cautious when participating in on-line gaming actions. The company has suggested people to confirm that any on-line playing platform they use is correctly licensed inside the state.
Impact on different states and authorized precedents:
This just isn’t the primary time {that a} state regulator has taken motion towards unlicensed on-line playing operators. Michigan’s motion towards MyBookie.ag follows related steps taken towards different offshore platforms, similar to Bovada, which has confronted scrutiny in a number of states. The success of Michigan’s enforcement motion could encourage different state gaming boards to subject their very own cease-and-desist orders to firms working with out correct licenses.
While Bovada has cooperated with state regulators by blocking entry for customers in restricted states, it stays to be seen whether or not MyBookie.ag will do the identical or battle these efforts. If MyBookie.ag agrees to stop its operations in Michigan, it may immediate different states to act swiftly, probably setting a precedent for additional crackdowns on offshore gaming firms.
For now, the MGCB is concentrated on guaranteeing that Michigan residents should not uncovered to unlawful playing dangers. The state’s gaming regulators are persevering with to monitor the scenario carefully and are ready to take extra authorized measures if mandatory.
The MGCB encourages residents to report any unlicensed playing actions they arrive throughout. This permits the state company to examine and take acceptable motion towards unauthorized playing operators.
