Michigan Regulator Issues Cease-And-Desists To Two Offshore Sports Betting Giants
Michigan sports betting regulators have worked at an astounding pace to evict illegal gambling options from the state in 2025, most recently taking aim at a pair of offshore sister sites.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board issued cease-and-desist letters to SportsBetting.ag and BetOnline.ag on Monday. The MGCB said that the pair of Panama-based websites, which form one of the largest gambling networks in the world, violated three Michigan sports betting laws:
- Lawful Internet Gaming Act
- Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act
- Michigan Penal Code
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Michigan sports betting, casino inquiry
The MGCB’s announcement stated it took action against SportsBetting.ag and BetOnline.ag after receiving an anonymous tip and conducting an investigation into the platforms.
According to the MGCB, the investigation found that SportsBetting.ag was illegally accepting wagers on sports, horse races, politics, table games, card games and virtual casino games. Additionally, the site offered “cash-back incentives for casino losses.”
Similarly, the MGCB found BetOnline to be facilitating several illegal betting options, including the following:
- Sports betting
- Live events
- Casino-style games, such as slots, table games and poker
- Horse racing
- E-sports
- Various contest tournaments
The report stated that the websites did not hold licenses to operate in the state of Michigan. It also mentioned that the operators allowed users to fund their accounts through credit cards, wire transfers and cryptocurrency.
Both sites have 14 days to exit the Michigan market. If they do not comply, the letters say, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and MGCB will take further legal action.
BetOnline, SportsBetting.ag are just the latest
With its most recent letters to SportsBetting.ag and BetOnline.ag, Michigan has now ordered more than 40 offshore gambling platforms to stop doing business within its borders. The MGCB’s message becomes clearer with each passing C&D letter it issues: offshore gambling operators are not welcome in the Wolverine State.
Efforts began last May, starting with Bovada. The MGCB issued multiple additional orders in the fall and then took aim at MyBookie.ag in January.
It served 10 more cease-and-desist letters in February and 15 more in March. At the beginning of this month, it sent 13 more orders, followed by an additional 11 to online casinos last week. It has also confirmed it is conducting an investigation into sports prediction markets.
Other states follow suit
Following in Michigan’s footsteps, a dozen more jurisdictions evicted Bovada by the end of 2024, bringing the nationwide total to 17 states and the District of Columbia.
Similarly, others have followed Michigan’s path in targeting additional illegal gambling websites. The domino effect continues to unfold, picking up more steam every time a state shuts down another unregulated sportsbook or casino.
Arizona has ramped up its aggressive approach since last December when it sent a cease-and-desist to Bovada.
Earlier this month, it served C&Ds to six operators, including MyBookie and BetUS.com.pa. It has also issued multiple notices to Arizonans in the last six months to inform them about fraudulent, illegal and unlicensed online sports betting and casino operators.
Florida also banned MyBookie and BetUS in February, and Tennessee recently issued $50,000 fines to the pair of operators for failing to comply with orders from last November.
