Michigan Sends Letters to 11 More Gaming Sites: Cease & Desist!
Michigan is continuing to pursue its crusade against unlicensed online gaming providers. On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced that it had sent cease-and-desist letters to 11 operators that it believes are offering illegal online gambling services.
About the Affected Sites
The 11 online gaming sites targeted by the MGCB are:
- 7 Bets Casino
- ABC Islands Casino
- Bookmaker.eu
- Cherry Jackpot Casino
- Club Player Casino
- NinBet Casino
- PitBet
- Prism Casino
- SlotsNBets
- VIP Slots Casino
- Wild Vegas Casino
A look at the websites of these companies reveals that they all have robust online casino libraries often including live dealer games. Some of them additionally have sportsbook betting, and a few allow betting on horse races too. None of them host a peer-to-peer poker room though.
Some of these enterprises are longstanding firms in the industry that have been active for decades, like Bookmaker, ABC Islands Casino, and Prism Casino. Others are relative newcomers with small player bases.
Bookmaker.eu is the most popular of these sites, at least by website traffic figures, so we can examine it to get a feel for what these online gaming providers are like:
Home Page of Bookmaker.euWe can see that there are various categories of betting activities listed across the top of the page, like “Sportsbook,” “Casino,” and “Racebook” along with tabs for “Rewards” and “Promotions.” The middle of the page is a slideshow of images promoting various aspects of the site, including the Game of the Week.
What Did They Do Wrong?
According to Henry Williams, the executive director of the MGCB:
These sites are operating illegally and without proper oversight, putting Michigan players at risk. We’re committed to shutting down unlicensed gambling operations and protecting the public from deceptive practices, unfair play, and financial harm.
Why Is the MGCB Upset?
The MGCB feels that these online gambling providers that are not licensed in Michigan subject their customer to “questionable practices,” including “unrealistic wagering requirements” and “denial of withdrawals.” Moreover, the MGCB contends that lack of adherence to rigorous data protection laws means that “players' personal and financial information may be highly vulnerable.”
There are no examples given of these excessive wagering requirements or withholding of payouts. Neither does the MGCB highlight any examples of data breaches that occurred at offshore gaming websites.
In any case, being a state-licensed operator doesn't ensure the safety of personal info. This was made clear in May 2023 when a hacking incident at DraftKings – a duly licensed Michigan sports betting provider – came to light. More than $600,000 was stolen from customers.
What Are the Consequences?
The Board wants the companies to which it sent the cease-and-desist letters to stop offering their services within the State of Michigan. They have 14 days to comply. Further violations may result in strong enforcement mechanisms, including collaborations between the MGCB and the Michigan Attorney General's Office to seek legal remedies.
MGCB Very Active Lately
It has been a couple of years since the MGCB began its persecution of offshore gambling sites. However, it seems to have stepped up its efforts lately. Just a few weeks ago, it sent letters to two dozen firms demanding that they stop serving Michiganders.
Just a month earlier, in March, the Board sent similar letters to five online gaming firms. This followed a similar action in February wherein nine operators were targeted. Completing the list of months for this year, January saw the MGCB demand that MyBookie.ag comply with Michigan gambling regulations.
True Reasons for The Crackdown
The Michigan Gaming Control Board has been exercising its duties since 1997. However, we hadn't heard anything about them going after offshore gaming organizations prior to 2024.
What changed during this timeframe is that the state set up its own regulated online sports book, casino, and poker industries. The licensed providers of such services contribute tax dollars to the state of Michigan whereas offshore entities in the same field don't add anything to Michigan's coffers.
This is probably the true reason for the MGCB's animosity toward international gambling businesses. It's all about protecting market share and tax revenue, not consumers.
Many Gaming Sites Still Available in Michigan
Although the MGCB's actions against offshore gaming firms have been annoying, there are large gaps in its coverage. Many websites have been left alone despite being sister sites of other entities that have been targeted. In a large number of cases, only one or a few properties that are a part of the same ownership group have been affected while others were ignored.
Such is the case with one of our favorite online casino and poker destinations: Ignition Casino. It has remained below the MGCB's radar, and you can play here with no worries. Upon making your first deposit, you can claim a 150% up to $1,500 poker bonus as long as you use crypto-currency. You'll get an equivalent bonus to use on casino games too. Click the button to begin your Ignition Casino adventure:
To learn more about Ignition first before joining, check out this Ignition Poker review. For info on your other MI options, read this page dedicated to Michigan online poker. If you reside in a different state, then be sure to peruse this comprehensive USA offshore poker guide.
April 28, 2025 – by Max Golden, Editor-in-Chief