Arizona orders five operators to cease gambling activities
The agency says illegal gambling activity could support felony charges, including promotion of gambling, illegal control of an enterprise and money laundering.
US.- The Arizona Department of Gaming has issued cease-and-desist orders against BetOpenly, Bookmaker, Club WPT Online Poker, Kutt Inc. and Raffle Creator. The agency said the measures are aimed at protecting the integrity of Arizona’s regulated gaming market and strengthening consumer protections.
According to the department, BetOpenly allegedly benefited from peer-to-peer sports betting and casino games through a commission structure while offering event wagering and daily fantasy sports contests without the required licences and allowing access to underage users. Meanwhile, Bookmaker was accused of facilitating horse-racing wagering, sports betting and casino gaming without holding either an event wagering licence or an advanced deposit wagering provider licence. Regulators noted that online casino gaming is not legal in Arizona.
Club WPT Online Poker was accused of allowing individuals under 21 to participate in pay-to-play online poker tournaments for prizes while using “no purchase necessary” language that the department considered deceptive. Online poker remains illegal in Arizona.
In the case of Kutt Inc., regulators argued that the company’s operations did not qualify as lawful social gambling because a third party benefited from the activity. The order directs the operator to stop allowing Arizona users to deposit funds and wager on sports, politics, pop culture and casino-style games.
Raffle Creator was accused of operating without meeting the requirements that allow Arizona non-profits to conduct lawful raffles and of permitting individuals under 21 to purchase tickets for prize drawings.
The cease-and-desist orders prohibit future illegal gambling activity in Arizona and apply to operations conducted through mobile applications, websites or other channels. The department warned that additional enforcement could include criminal charges, civil actions against the companies and their employees, restitution for consumers who lost money, and forfeiture of funds obtained through the alleged illegal conduct.
Director Jackie Johnson said the Department of Gaming was “taking decisive action against illegal gambling operators that put Arizonans at risk” and that the orders make clear that operators promoting unauthorised gambling must stop operating in the state.
