The MGCB was one of many state regulatory bodies to write to the DOJ on April 28. Other signatories were Illinois, Colorado, Louisiana, New Jersey, Nevada, and Mississippi. The coalition advocated for more federal measures to crack down on online casinos and illegal offshore sportsbooks. Michigan was ably represented in the letter, thanks to a detailed message by Henry Williams, the MGCB director, which detailed the state’s position on the issue.
Williams, like other authorities, pointed out the risks that come with using offshore gambling sites that are not legal. First among many is that offshore operators are not subject to the same regulations as those based on state law. So, this prevents the MGCB and other coalition regulators from resolving consumer disputes between residents of their state and offshore service providers in court.
Some other issues are the absence of age restrictions and the loss of potential state tax which could have funded major sectors like education and healthcare. Other issues ranged from the non-existence of responsible gaming efforts, rife money laundering activities and unfair practices, typically involving non-payment of wins to customers. And due to their easy access, offshore sites had a direct impact on legal Michigan online gambling, both financially and otherwise.