Michigan Moves to Stop 33 Unlicensed Offshore Gambling Sites

Michigan’s gambling regulator has directed 33 offshore operators to stop serving residents after investigations found that they offered gambling products without state authorization. The cease-and-desist letters address activity involving online casino games and sports wagering, alongside sweepstakes-style products.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced the action on October 8, 2026. It also highlighted the risks facing residents who voluntarily exclude themselves from online gambling. Those residents can still encounter offshore platforms that operate beyond Michigan’s regulatory protections.

The latest letters follow an earlier enforcement effort. In April 2026, the board announced that it had contacted 45 offshore operators with cease-and-desist directives over four months. Michigan has also recently reached agreements concerning sports-related event contracts offered by Coinbase and Robinhood.

Letters Cover Operators Across the Offshore Market

Michigan requires operators to obtain the relevant state license before offering internet casino gaming or sports betting to residents. Investigators determined that every operator named in the latest action lacked the necessary state authorization.

Recipients included Azartzona Casino, Basepoker, BingoMania, BitofGold, Cryptoplay, Del Oro Casino, Detective Slots, Donbet, Exclusive Casino, Genie Jackpot and Guangzhou Snail Interactive Technology Co., Ltd.

The board also contacted Immersion Casino Online, iWild Casino, JacksPay, Jurassic Slots, L0tt0, Lucky Charm Sweep, Lucky Rebel, Magicianbet, mBit Casino and Odds Maker.

The remaining recipients comprised Raging Bull Slots, Regal Casino and Sportsbook, which also operates as Wager Street, Ronin Slots, Runewager, Slot Paradise, Sloto Tribe, Sloto’Cash Online Casino, Spin Dinero, SpinsTopia, Stardust, SunnySpins Casino and The Online Casino.

Operators that disregard the directives may face further enforcement involving the Michigan Department of Attorney General.

Self-Excluded Residents Face Gaps in Protection

Licensed platforms must honor Michigan’s Internet Gaming and Sports Betting Responsible Gaming Database. The system allows people to voluntarily exclude themselves from online gambling, and the state requires licensed operators to respect that decision.

Offshore operators have no equivalent obligation under Michigan’s system. Someone who has enrolled in self-exclusion can therefore open an account and deposit money with an unlicensed platform.

MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams addressed that gap directly: “Offshore sites don’t respect it.”

Michigan’s licensed market also imposes responsible gambling requirements, including deposit controls. Customers who use offshore platforms may lack independent checks on game fairness and the protections that Michigan’s regulatory standards provide for personal and financial information.

The same limits affect disputes. When an unlicensed operator refuses to release winnings or closes an account, the board may have no way to help the customer recover money.

National Figures Show Continued Illegal Gambling Activity

An August 2025 national analysis estimated that Americans wager $673.6 billion annually through illegal and unregulated gambling operators. The illegal market grew 22% compared with the previous study in 2022.

The research also found a substantial change in online casino participation. The share of players using legal sites exclusively fell from 52% in 2022 to 24%. Nearly half of online casino players used both legal and illegal platforms.

Illegal bookmakers and offshore sportsbooks attracted an estimated $84 billion in wagers during the year examined. One in ten sports bettors used illegal sources exclusively.

Earlier consumer research revealed confusion about sportsbook status. Among bettors who placed most of their wagers with illegal operators, 70% believed they used only legal sportsbooks or divided their betting evenly between legal and illegal providers.

Source:

Michigan Orders 33 Offshore Gambling Sites to Stop Operations, news.worldcasinodirectory.com, October 9, 2026.