Michigan Gaming Board targets 10 offshore casinos with cease-and-desist orders
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has been on a rampage against illegal gambling by sending cease-and-desist letters to 10 online casino platforms operating illegally in the state, all of which are linked to Belize-based Apex Dynamics Ltd.
The move is part of the board’s ongoing crackdown on offshore operators offering unlicensed gambling to Michigan residents, hopefully making the state safer.
The sites in question are Aladdin’s Gold Casino, All Star Slots, Buzz Luck, Club World Casinos, CryptoReels, High Noon, Lucky Red Casino, Manhattan Slots Casino, ReelSpin Casino, and Slotter Casino.
According to the MGCB, these platforms were offering casino-style games without a license, violating several Michigan laws including the Lawful Internet Gaming Act and the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act.
“These illegal platforms undermine consumer trust and the legal market we’ve worked hard to build,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams. “Our mission is to protect Michigan players, and we will continue to pursue bad actors that threaten the integrity of our regulated gaming environment.”
When investigations were made into the parent company Apex Dynamics, they revealed that not only unlicensed activity was rife but there were also questionable practices related to player withdrawals.
The MGCB highlighted that some of these casinos require customers to wager their initial deposits multiple times before being allowed to access any winnings — a red flag commonly associated with shady operators.
In addition to traditional payment methods like Visa and PayPal, these offshore sites also accepted cryptocurrency, adding another layer of complexity for regulators and consumers alike.
As for the next steps, the MGCB has given all of the aforementioned operators 14 days from receipt of the letters to halt all operations in the state.
If they fail to comply, the agency says it will escalate the matter in collaboration with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.
Those currently living in Michigan are urged to verify whether a gaming site is properly licensed by checking the list of approved operators on the official MGCB website, and anyone who suspects illegal gambling activity can contact the regulatory body anonymously.
The post Michigan Gaming Board targets 10 offshore casinos with cease-and-desist orders appeared first on ReadWrite.