The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has sent 19 cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed gambling companies operating in the state.
The regulator announced the latest crackdown in a press release on its website. It has been targeting illegal operators over the past year, and the latest round of C&D letters brings the number issued up to 59 for the past 12 months.
The statement said that, “This crackdown reinforces the MGCB’s ongoing, relentless efforts to safeguard the state’s gaming environment and protect consumers from the risks associated with unlicensed gambling platforms.”
MGCB Protecting Legal Online Casinos
Among the 19 companies issued with the orders to stop operations, many are unlicensed casino platforms, deemed a threat to regulated iGaming in the state.
“Illegal gambling operators threaten the safety of our citizens and the integrity of our gaming industry,” said Henry Williams, MGCB Executive Director. “When companies offer games without proper licensing, Michigan players are left without the critical protections they deserve. That’s unacceptable, and we’re taking strong action to stop it.”
Michigan online casinos have been legal since the Lawful Internet Gaming Act was passed in 2019, and the first platforms launched in 2021. There are 15 licensed platforms in the state, with platforms required to partner with the state’s tribal or commercial casinos.
Combined, licensed operators generated $2.4 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) last year, up 27% from the $1.92 billion generated in 2023. This year looks set to surpass that figure, with March setting a record high for iGaming GGR at $260.5 million. May was not far behind at $251.5 million, which was the second-highest to date and a 26.6% rise from May 2024.
Clamping Down On Illegal Gambling Without Legislation
Unregulated casino platforms are estimated to have generated $1.2 billion in revenue from Michigan residents last year, spurring the MGCB to continue its action against unlicensed betting companies.
Previously, the regulator has targeted sweepstakes casinos and sent cease-and-desist letters to Stake and VGW back in 2023, prompting the companies to exit the state.
The aggressive actions of the MCGB mean the state has not had to make new legislation to target sweepstakes. In a similar vein, Louisiana’s Gaming Control Board and Attorney General have targeted unregulated gambling companies, despite Gov. Jeff Landry vetoing a bill that explicitly bans sweepstakes.
Landry pointed to the authority the Gaming Control Board and Attorney General already hold in shutting down unregulated gambling. Like the MCGB, Louisiana’s Gaming Control Board sent 40 cease-and-desist letters to operators it deemed to be flaunting state laws. The Attorney General’s office also issued a statement this week declaring sweepstakes casinos illegal under existing state law.
Operators issued with the cease-and-desist letters “have 14 days to cease all activity in Michigan or face further legal consequences, including possible enforcement actions in partnership with the Michigan Department of Attorney General,” said the MCGB statement.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.
