The AGA wants other states to follow Michigan's actions in cracking down on off-shore sportsbooks

Earlier this week, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) issued a cease-and-desist letter to off-shore sportsbook Brovada. They were reportedly offering illegal online gambling. With Michigan taking action against Bovada, this could set a precedent moving forward for other states to take action against illegal providers. The American Gaming Association (AGA) wants to crack down on the illegal off-shore markets within the industry. They’ve been working at this for years now. AGA President Bill Miller had this to say.

“The Michigan Gaming Control Board’s decisive action highlights that states have the power to protect their residents from predatory, offshore gambling sites and is another important step in winning the battle against the illegal market,” said Bill Miller. “The AGA applauds the MGCB’s leadership against bad actors like Bovada and urges other states to follow Michigan’s lead.”

What is the history of the AGA pushing for the federal government to help eliminate illegal markets?

DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, along with some brick-and-mortar operators are all members of the AGA. They have all been pushing for the federal government's help to target these off-shore markets. This goes back to April 2022 when CEO Bill Miller wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Miller asked for the Department of Justice to make a “strong and meaningful statement” to investigate off-shore markets. Most notably, Bovada. 

The AGA wants clarity that proves these off-shore markets are criminal enterprises. In doing so, it would help deter bettors in the US from using these providers. In the example with the MGCB, Bovada received a cease-and-desist letter. Bovada is available in every US state except for Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Delaware. In a 2022 study, the AGA found that Americans were gambling more than $400 billion a year using illegal sites. That’s approximately $4.6 billion in tax revenue lost. The AGA said the Department of Justice is the only agency that can credibly address the illegal off-shore sportsbooks.