Offshore casinos have long been the scourge of the legal casino industry in the US. Names like Bovada and BetUS have carved out a niche for themselves in the US casino landscape. They offer almost wholly unregulated casino gaming to players across the country, much to the annoyance and concern of regulators and legal operators.
But now, one state with legal online casinos is pushing back.
Michigan Issuing Cease-and-Desist Demands
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has taken steps to combat these unreliable and unregulated casinos, recently issuing five cease-and-desist orders. The five businesses targeted are Black Lotus Casino, BetWhale Casino, Love2play Casino, Orion Stars 777, and Coins Game Casino.
In a statement regarding the orders, the MGCB stated:
“The MGCB has given these operators 14 days from the date of receipt of the cease-and-desist letters to halt their illegal activities. If they do not comply, the MGCB will work closely with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to pursue further legal action.”
However, whether the state can shut down these sites, which are based and operated from abroad, remains to be seen.
MGCB Director Warns of Offshore Risks
But why should US consumers make all efforts to avoid offshore casinos? The director of the MGCB was explicit in his views, advising that offshore casinos lack the “consumer protections” available to players at legal online casinos.
According to the director, these offshore sites provide unreliable payment methods that can fail to payout at all. In essence, they don’t offer the same legal and protected platform regulated online casinos offer.
While popular several years ago, there is now virtually no requirement for US gamblers to use these unregulated sites. Several states now offer safe, regulated real money casinos, while players can legally access reputable sweepstakes casinos in most other locations.
How to Play at Legal Online Casinos
With it being highly unadvisable to play at unregulated offshore casinos, how can US casino enthusiasts ensure they’re playing at a reputable site? The answer depends on the state you live in.
If you’re in a state with legal online casinos — Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia – head to an online casino regulated on a state level. These vary from state to state, but some major real money casinos operating in the US include DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars Palace.
These legal casinos are constantly monitored to ensure compliance with the strict requirements placed on them by licensing conditions. They can be trusted to treat players fairly and morally.
If you’re in most 44 states without legal casinos, the equation is slightly more complex – but not impossible.
Sweepstakes casinos offer a legal route to real-money online casino play in most states. They use a legal loophole to allow players to win real money by playing with gifted Sweeps Coins. However, many states are becoming savvy about these sweepstakes sites, and some lawmakers are already taking concrete steps to remove them from the legal online casino landscape.
