Michigan’s regulatory gaming agency continued its focus on ridding the Wolverine State of illegally operating offshore gaming companies.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board announced on Thursday that it issued 11 cease-and-desist letters to online casinos “found to be unlawfully targeting Michigan residents,” the agency said.
Key Takeaways
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The Michigan Gaming Control Board has sent 13 cease-and-desist letters to offshore gaming operators this week
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Wolverine State regulators found these online casinos were “unlawfully targeting Michigan residents” and engaging in “deceptive practices
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These operators have 14 days to cease operations in Michigan or face further legal action
The websites ordered to stop offering online slots, table games, and video poker include Shazam Casino, Highway Casino, SlotsRoom, Ruby Slots Casino, Las Atlantis Casino, Bet Big Dollar Casino, Blood Moon Casino, Spinfinity, Jumba Bet Casino, Grand Eagle Online Casino, and DogsFortune.
“The Michigan Gaming Control Board remains fully committed to ensuring a fair, safe, and lawful gaming environment for all Michigan residents,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said.
“Our actions today underscore our unwavering dedication to holding illegal operators accountable. Shutting down these unlicensed platforms is critical not only to maintaining the integrity of Michigan’s regulated gaming industry but also to protecting residents from predatory practices and unreliable gambling experiences.”
Violation of laws
This came a day after the MGCB sent cease-and-desist letters to Lucky Tiger Casino and Rich Palms Casino after receiving a “tip” about illegal gambling operators owned by Curaçao-based Alistair Solutions NV.
“This agency has zero tolerance for illegal gambling,” Williams said. “We will continue to exercise our regulatory oversight and authority to protect the interests of Michigan citizens and licensed operators and ensure that all online gambling activities available here are compliant with the law.”
MGCB said all of these online casinos violate three laws. The Lawful Internet Gaming Act says that only licensed operators can offer online gaming in the Wolverine State.
The Michigan Gaming and Control Act makes violating the previous act a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both. Regulators also say the offshore operators are in violation of the Michigan Penal Code, which prohibits the use of money and anything of value in exchange for a payout on a game of chance.
The gaming companies have 14 days from receiving the letters to stop offering online casinos to Michigan residents. Failure to comply “could result in further legal action and penalties,” the regulators said.
Call to residents
There are 12 licensed online Michigan casino operators, including three partnered with commercial casinos and nine partnered with tribes. Michigan sports betting also operates online and in-person wagering.
The regulators said that illegal gambling sites offer payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies, “to lure Michigan players into risky gambling environments.”
“However, these platforms engage in deceptive practices, including withholding winnings and imposing excessive wagering requirements. Many players have reported that they are required to wager their deposits multiple times before being allowed to access their winnings, a practice that is not only unethical but also in violation of Michigan’s legal protections for gamblers.”
The MGCB asks residents to “exercise caution when engaging in online gaming activities and to verify the legality of gaming sites before participating” and use licensed operators.
On the attack
The MGCB has been vigilant in 2025 about what it deems illegal online casinos and sportsbooks.
Last week, the regulatory agency issued 10 cease-and-desist letters to operators owned by Belize-based Apex Dynamics Ltd. The MGCB also recently went after five illegal gaming operators from Curaçao, Belize, Costa Rica, and China.
Earlier this year, Michigan regulators ordered MyBookie.ag to stop offering sports betting and iGaming to residents.
