Michigan Gaming Control Board warns over unlicensed platforms

The Michigan regulator has shared concerns about unregulated sites after receiving complaints about the nonpayment of winnings.

US.- The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has released a statement warning about betting on unlicensed platforms after it received complaints regarding the nonpayment of winnings.

In the statement, Henry Williams, executive director of MGCB, advised players to be cautious. The MGCB has received complaints alleging difficulties in obtaining winnings and deposited refunds from certain sites that were not licensed in the state.

Williams highlighted the potential for personal information to be obtained by unregulated platforms and sold for criminal purposes, such as obtaining medical care or filing taxes in a fraudulent manner.

He said: “If you share personal information with an unregulated gambling site, there are no guarantees your information won’t be sold to or used by criminals.”

He warned that identity theft is the most common complaint received by the Federal Trade Commission and added that MGCB does not have the power to pursue complaints against unregulated betting sites. He said 24,000 cases of identity theft were reported in Michigan in 2020.

“Unlike regulated gambling, there is no mechanism for the MGCB to handle a patron dispute with an unregulated, offshore gambling site. Our agency does not have the authority to pursue a dispute with an unregulated site,” Williams said in the statement. 

See also: Michigan’s sportsbooks take $497.6m in bets in October