Minnesota Attorney General issues cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed operators
Letters were sent to 14 gaming operators.
US.- Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison has announced that his office has issued cease-and-desist letters to 14 operators for illegally operating in the state. The letters were directed to VG LuckyLand, Zula Casino, Fortune Coins, BetAnySports, BetUS, XBet, BetNow, BetWhale, EveryGame Sportsbook, BetOnline, Slotsandcasino, Bovada, MyBookie and Sportsbetting.com.
All of these sites have previously received letters from the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, instructing them to either cease operations or modify their business practices to comply with the state laws, Ellison said. The operators could face civil penalties of up to $25,000 for each violation.
Ellison said: “Online platforms offering sportsbooks and casino games run by out-of-state and overseas operators may make it look as though online gambling is legal and safe in Minnesota, but let me be clear: it is not. Trying to rebrand poker chips as virtual currencies does not change the fact that these online gambling operations are unlawful.”
Bob Jacobson, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, added: “Illegal online casinos and sweepstakes sites make big promises but deliver only risk to Minnesota consumers. Most are based outside the United States to avoid laws, regulation and enforcement measures. There’s no accountability, no protection for players and no way to know if the betting will be run fairly. Through our Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement division, we will work with the Attorney General to hold these operators accountable, protect Minnesotans and ensure the integrity of Minnesota’s gaming industry.”
Earlier this year, a bill that would have legalised mobile sports betting in Minnesota failed to pass out of committee in the Minnesota Senate. The committee voted 6-6, leaving the bill, SF 757, short of votes to advance to the next committee.
