The Michigan Gaming Control Board has added its voice to a coalition of gaming regulators urging the Department of Justice to prioritise tackling illegal, offshore gambling.
The coalition sent a letter asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to tackle threats from offshore gambling which state regulators cannot tackle alone.
In it, they claimed that the dangers from illegal gambling include no age verification requirements to protect minors, no controls to prevent money laundering, no guarantees for payouts for winning players and a loss of state tax revenue.
The coalition comprises regulators from Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Nevada.
"In Michigan, strict laws and rules govern internet gaming and sports betting and provide consumer protections, promote confidence and ensure fair and honest gaming," MGCB executive director Henry Williams said.
"We are willing to help the US Department of Justice in any way we can as it pursues enforcement of US laws against offshore illegal gaming enterprises that take advantage of our citizens."
The regulators stated in the letter that they are “proud of the work they do to protect the public, including enforcing payout requirements and dispute resolution procedures.”
"State regulators like the MGCB ensure operators offer products that pass technical standards and testing, and we also require operators to comply with reporting requirements," continued Williams. "Offshore operators flaunt state regulations and offer products that do not protect the public, which greatly concerns me and my fellow state regulators."
