It’s been a busy 2025 for Michigan's Gaming Control Board, and it doesn’t sound like they have any plans to slow down their efforts to hold operators to account.
The MGCB announced via a statement Monday that they'd issued cease-and-desist letters to 10 illegal offshore operations Belize-based Apex Dynamics Ltd. owned.
“The Gaming Control Board’s relentless dedication to maintaining the integrity of Michigan’s gaming industry drives our efforts,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams. “We will continue to take strong action to shut down illegal operations that undermine trust in Michigan’s legal gaming system.”
The unlicensed operators, including iGaming slots and casinos-style games, have 14 days to cease illegal activities, with further legal action to follow if they don't comply. Among Michigan law violations, the MGCB outlined infractions related to the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, and the Michigan Penal Code.
“Despite offering various payment options like Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies, these illegal operators impose restrictive withdrawal conditions, often requiring players to wager their initial deposits several times before allowing access to their winnings,” the statement outlined.
Michigan leads the charge across the U.S.
This latest round of cease-and-desist letters comes less than a month after Michigan offered a similar ultimatum to five unrelated operators in Curacao, Belize, Costa Rica, and China.
“These illegal platforms not only violate Michigan’s gaming regulations but also put consumers at risk by offering unreliable withdrawal options and lacking essential consumer protections,” Williams said earlier this month. “Our top priority is safeguarding Michigan residents by ensuring that all online gaming activities are conducted legally and safely.”
As one of the United States' most aggressive and vigilant pursuers of illegal and unlicensed operators, the Wolverine State remains a leader in ensuring the safety and legitimacy of gambling retailers across the entire nation. Notably, Michigan led the charge in pushing back against iGaming giant Bovada last May, successfully issuing a cease-and-desist that prompted other states to follow suit.
“If people choose to ignore the law and don’t do what’s legal, we’re going to find them and hold them accountable for their actions,” Williams stated last year at a gaming law conference. “In Michigan, the Michigan Gaming Control Board has made it a priority to do everything we can to protect our state’s citizens from illegal gambling market operators and our legitimate gaming industry from being tarnished by its illegal counterparts.”
Michigan also backed up enforcement efforts with sizable budgetary allocations from the state legislature to fight unregulated operations. Among those efforts, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put aside nearly $2 million of the state’s 2025 budget towards “internet gaming and sports regulation.”
