The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued cease-and-desist notices to BetOnline.ag and SportsBetting.ag, each operated from Panama, for providing playing companies within the state with out correct authorization. The orders come as a part of a broader regulatory sweep focusing on offshore betting operators that, in accordance to the MGCB, violate Michigan’s gaming legal guidelines by accepting wagers from residents with out holding a state license.
Operators accused of violating a number of state playing statutes:
According to MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams, “The Michigan Gaming Control Board is committed to enforcing Michigan’s gaming laws and protecting consumers from illegal gambling. We encourage residents to only engage with licensed and regulated online platforms for a safe and fair gaming experience.”
The two platforms are alleged to have breached a number of Michigan statutes, together with the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Gaming Control and Revenue Act, and the state’s Penal Code. SportsBetting.ag, investigators say, has been accepting bets on all the things from sports activities and politics to horse racing and digital on line casino video games. Additionally, the location reportedly supplied cashback promotions for on line casino losses—one other violation beneath state legislation.
Similarly, BetOnline.ag has been accused of providing unlawful entry to an array of betting choices, together with esports, dwell occasions, conventional sports activities, on line casino video games reminiscent of slots and poker, and numerous contests. These choices are allegedly being funded by a number of channels, together with bank cards, financial institution transfers, and cryptocurrencies, regardless of the operator missing any Michigan licensure.
Neither website is authorised to function inside Michigan, and each got a 14-day deadline to halt their actions or face additional authorized penalties. Should they fail to comply, the MGCB said it could coordinate with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to pursue enforcement actions.
Part of a wider marketing campaign in opposition to offshore playing operators:
The transfer in opposition to BetOnline and SportsBetting comes amid an uptick in enforcement exercise by the MGCB. April alone noticed over 20 cease-and-desist orders issued to unlicensed operators, persevering with a sample that has resulted in additional than 40 such actions up to now yr. Just final week, 11 offshore on-line on line casino websites acquired comparable warnings from the company.
The MGCB has expressed concern over the client dangers posed by these unlicensed platforms, significantly as many lack safeguards generally present in regulated environments. In addition to undermining the integrity of Michigan’s gaming framework, officers warn that these operations are generally accessible to people beneath the authorized playing age of 21.
“Sports betting is meant to be a form of entertainment, not a financial investment,” said Williams in the regulator’s press release. “By framing sports contracts as investment vehicles, these platforms risk confusing consumers and undermining the state’s commitment to responsible gaming.”
This just isn’t the primary time BetOnline.ag has drawn regulatory scrutiny. Similar cease-and-desist letters have been despatched to the operator in different states, together with Mississippi and Illinois. In Mississippi, the state’s gaming fee issued preliminary warnings in July 2024, adopted by a second spherical of letters in December after no response was acquired. Illinois additionally directed enforcement actions in opposition to BetOnline and BetUS earlier this yr.
The MGCB’s newest enforcement push additionally coincided with adjustments within the board’s management. Governor Gretchen Whitmer just lately appointed Jim Ananich as the brand new chair, changing Linda Forte. Ananich will serve on this capability by December 2028. Other members of the board embrace Joni M. Thrower Davis, Mark Evenson, Deidre A. Lambert-Bounds, and Andrew T. Palms.
