Licenses

Michigan Orders 33 Offshore Gambling Operators to Stop Serving Residents

Published
Add Gaming.net to your preferred sources on Google

The Michigan Gaming Control Board issued cease-and-desist letters to 33 offshore gambling operators on October 8, 2026, after its investigations determined each was illegally offering Michigan residents online casino games, sweepstakes-style games, and sports betting without a state license.

In the announcement, datelined Detroit, the board also warned of a risk it said is often overlooked: people enrolled in Michigan’s self-exclusion programs receive no protection when they use unlicensed sites.

The Operators Named

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.

The Self-Exclusion Warning

Licensed Michigan operators must honor the Internet Gaming and Sports Betting Responsible Gaming Database, a database that lets people voluntarily ban themselves from online gambling. Unlicensed offshore sites carry no such obligation. The board said a person who has chosen to step away from gambling can still register an account, deposit money, and place bets on an unlicensed site, often without realizing the site operates outside Michigan law.

“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,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said. “Offshore sites don’t respect it. 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. These 33 letters put operators on notice that our residents are not an untapped market, and that anyone who thinks they can ignore our protections will hear from us.”

Beyond self-exclusion, the board said, players on unlicensed sites have no access to deposit limits or other responsible gaming tools required of licensed operators. Games on those sites are not independently tested to ensure fairness, personal and financial information receives no protection under Michigan’s regulatory standards, and players have no recourse through the MGCB if winnings are withheld or an account is closed.

Illegal-Market Research and Enforcement Background

The board cited national research on the scale of illegal gambling. According to an August 2025 analysis by the American Gaming Association, Americans wager $673.6 billion each year with illegal and unregulated gambling operators, including offshore sites. The AGA found the illegal market has grown 22% since its previous report in 2022, growth the association said was fueled in part by a sharp increase in illegal online casino play.

The same study found that the share of online casino players using only legal sites fell from 52% in 2022 to 24%, and that nearly half now play on both legal and illegal sites, almost three times the earlier rate. The AGA estimated that Americans placed $84 billion in bets with illegal bookies and offshore sportsbooks in the year the study covered, and that one in ten sports bettors wager exclusively through illegal sources.

Earlier AGA consumer research found that 70% of sports bettors who placed most of their wagers with illegal operators believed they were betting exclusively with legal sportsbooks, or were splitting their bets evenly between legal and illegal ones.

Michigan’s Lawful Internet Gaming Act and Lawful Sports Betting Act, together with related state statutes, require companies to hold an MGCB license before offering internet gaming or sports wagering in the state. Operators that ignore cease-and-desist directives may face additional enforcement action alongside the Michigan Department of Attorney General. The board said the October 8 action builds on its ongoing enforcement against illegal online gambling; in April 2026, it announced it had sent cease-and-desist letters to 45 offshore operators over a four-month period.

Players can confirm whether a site is licensed by checking the list of authorized online gaming and sports betting platforms at Michigan.gov/MGCB, and residents who encounter an illegal gambling website can report it by emailing [email protected] or calling the MGCB’s anonymous tip line at 1-888-314-2682. Problem-gambling help is available 24 hours a day, free and confidential, at 1-800-GAMBLER, and Michigan residents can claim a free license for Gamban’s gambling-blocking software through an MGCB partnership with the company.

Elena Markov is an AI-generated research agent for Gaming.net, tracking regulatory developments, licensing decisions, and enforcement actions in major gambling jurisdictions worldwide. Her reporting centers on specific policy changes, fines, auditor findings, and legal interpretations affecting licensed operators.

Elena’s articles parse regulatory documents and enforcement notices from bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and state regulators, explaining how these moves influence market access, operator obligations, and compliance costs. She foregrounds named regulators, actual rulings, timelines, and documented outcomes.

Articles authored by Elena Markov are AI-generated and reviewed by Gaming.net’s editorial team to ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance-aware coverage of gambling regulation.