Michigan Demands That 6 Online Gaming Sites Cease + Desist!
Watch out, providers of unlicensed online gaming services – the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is out to get you. In its latest foray against what it considers a public menace, the MGCB has issued six cease-and-desist letters to organizations that it claims are violating Michigan law by offering online gambling to residents of the state. This news was announced on the MGCB's website on July 30, 2025.
About the Sites Targeted
This time around, the MGCB only bothered to send letters to six operators, a relatively modest number especially when compared to the letter-writing sprees that the Board has embarked upon in the past. For instance, on July 2, the MGCB issued letters to 19 online gaming organizations.
The six sites mentioned in the MGCB's announcement are:
- Crypto Slots - cryptocurrency-only casino with provably fair games
- Nitrobetting - crypto-only sportsbook, casino, and poker operator formerly known as Nitrogen
- NewVegas - online casino transacting in Bitcoin and a variety of legacy payment methods
- Las Vegas USA Casino - online casino that supports crypto and traditional payments
- Grand Rush Casino - online casino with Bitcoin and old-school transaction methods
- Slotgard Casino - internet casino with BTC and credit card deposits
Unlike in the past, it seems the focus this time around is specifically on those entities that deal with casino gaming specifically and not poker or sports betting. The one exception is NitroBetting, formerly known as Nitrogen, which offers a competitive low-vig sportsbook in addition to casino and poker products.
Nitrobetting WebsiteWhat Do the Letters Say?
According to the MGCB, these companies are violating Michigan law, which demands that they obtain proper licensure from the state if they wish to host internet gaming and/or sports betting. Laws cited in the letters include the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Lawful Sports Betting Act, and the Michigan Penal Code.
They are directed to stop any operations involving Michigan residents immediately. A failure to comply within 14 days may lead to further legal action, including possible enforcement in conjunction with the Michigan Attorney General.
Why Is the MGCB Taking This Step?
In explaining its rationale for its recent actions, the MGCB highlighted the importance of consumer protection. According to the Board, playing at unregulated sites increases financial risk, the possibility of identity theft, and the chance of unfair play.
Regarding this latter outcome, the MGCB went on to specify that the games might be rigged, operators may refuse to pay out winnings, and users have no legal recourse in case of wrongdoing or disputes.
The Executive Director the MGCB, Henry Williams, said:
We take this seriously. When unauthorized operators offer games without regulation, Michigan players are left exposed—and we will not tolerate it…Unlike Michigan’s licensed operators, these sites offer no consumer safeguards. They’re not held accountable to anyone, and that puts players in a dangerous position.
What's Really Going On
We can get a clue as to the real motivations of the MGCB by looking at the “How to Protect Yourself” section of its recent news statement, which says, “Players should verify that a gaming site is licensed by visiting Michigan.gov/MGCB and reviewing the list of authorized operators.” So the purpose is to drive traffic toward Michigan-licensed organizations, which generate substantial tax revenue for the state.
After all, the Board has been in existence since 1997; yet, for much of that time, it did not concern itself with online gaming operations. It's only in the past couple of years, now that Michigan has its own instate online gaming economy, that it has bothered to crack down on offshore providers of betting services.
Its recent interference in the world of online gaming included the time in May 2024 when it demanded that Bovada leave the state. More recently, in April 2025, the MGCB commanded 24 online gaming entities to stop transacting with Michiganders. A month later, a further 18 offshore gaming platforms were sent similar communiques directing that they cease their Michigan-facing operations immediately.
Our Opinion
We've looked at the documents pertaining to the MGCB's crackdowns described above as well as other enforcement actions taken by the body. We wish we could say that they appear to be targeting rogue or dishonest operators, but the evidence does not support this conclusion.
Rather, the Board is going after a wide range of firms some of which may indeed have a reputation for underhanded dealings but others of which are very prominent and trusted names in the online gambling industry. Bovada, for instance, is known for its honest games and speedy payout of wins.
If the MGCB were really attempting to protect consumers, then it would have had plenty of shadier targets to go after before it got to Bovada. Instead, Bovada was among the first sites on the hitlist.
Michigan's Efforts Backfiring?
Even after Michigan sends cease-and-desist letters to operators, compliance is not automatic. Some of the more reputable gaming firms, acting out of an abundance of caution, elect to obey the diktats of the MGCB while others might ignore them. Curiously, this has the effect of pushing Michiganders away from more responsible and law-abiding platforms and toward the more daring and perhaps incautious remaining companies.
You Can Still Play in Michigan
Notwithstanding the wishes of the MGCB, there are still a number of trustworthy places to go if you wish to play online poker and other games. We think Ignition Casino ranks highly among them, and it is happy to transact with Michigan residents. When you make an initial crypto-currency deposit, you'll get a 150% up to $1,500 bonus to play poker with and another 150% up to $1,500 for casino games.
For additional information about Ignition, take a look at this accurate Ignition Casino Poker review.
You can peruse a list of other MI-friendly online cardrooms with this Michigan online poker guide. If you reside elsewhere, then you can instead head over to this USA offshore poker page.
Aug. 5, 2025 – by Max Golden, Editor-in-Chief