Arizona Orders Unlicensed Gambling Sites to Cease Operations

Guard Dog Jun 30, 2025
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The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has taken decisive steps to clamp down on unauthorized gambling activity within the state, issuing cease-and-desist orders to several operators accused of running unregulated gaming services. This initiative underscores Arizona’s firm stance on upholding regulatory standards and protecting consumers from unlawful gaming practices.

Enforcement Action Targets Unauthorized Gambling Services

The latest enforcement sweep by the ADG includes both U.S.-based and international operators that are allegedly conducting gambling operations without valid licenses. According to the department, the services in question range from online casino-style games and illegal sweepstakes to unauthorized sports betting, horse wagering platforms, and peer-to-peer exchanges.

Among the named entities are:

  • ReBet, offering event wagering as a sportsbook
     
  • Novig, a peer-to-peer betting exchange
     
  • Dallas Safari Club and Fanthem, involved in unauthorized raffles
     
  • us, identified as a sweepstakes platform
     
  • BettorEdge and High 5, both offering various forms of gambling
     

Each of these operators has been ordered to immediately cease all gambling-related activities within Arizona and to prevent Arizona users from accessing their services.

Operators Face Felony-Level Charges

In addition to operating without proper authorization, the ADG alleges these platforms are in violation of multiple felony statutes under Arizona law. Specifically, they may be in breach of:

  • R.S. § 13-3303 – Promotion of Gambling
     
  • R.S. § 13-2312 – Illegal Control of an Enterprise
     
  • R.S. § 13-2317 – Money Laundering
     

Because they operate outside the legally sanctioned gaming framework, these entities are classified as criminal enterprises under state law. The ADG’s cease-and-desist orders demand not only a halt to current activity but also proactive steps to block access by Arizona-based users.

Strong Statement From Arizona’s Gaming Authority

Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG, made it clear that unauthorized gambling will not be tolerated in any form. “Illegal gambling, regardless of the platform or format, has no place in Arizona,” she said. “Whether it’s online casino-style games, sweepstakes models, or unauthorized sports betting, any operation that falls outside Arizona’s legal and regulatory framework will face enforcement action.”

She went on to emphasize the broader harm posed by such activities: “Illegal gambling doesn’t just break the law; it robs our state’s economy and puts consumers at risk. The Department stands firmly with our licensed and regulated operators who are following the rules, contributing to Arizona’s economic health, and upholding the protections that a regulated market provides.”

Public Advised to Stay Alert

With the growth of digital gambling platforms, the ADG is warning residents about the dangers of using unlicensed services. Many such platforms, while accessible from within Arizona, are operating illegally, offering no consumer protections. Users of these sites risk identity theft, financial fraud, and loss, and they have minimal legal recourse in the event of misconduct.

The ADG encourages the public to verify a platform’s legal status using the department’s official list of authorized operators, available at gaming.az.gov/checkyourbet. Arizona residents who encounter suspicious gambling activities are urged to record as much information as possible and report it to publicaffairs@azgaming.gov or to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Source:
https://lcb.org/news/arizona-orders-unlicensed-gambling-sites-to-halt-operations, LCB.org , June 30, 2025.