Michigan residents have been warned about the dangers of uncontrolled gaming.

Michigan online casino: safe gaming with regulated operators

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has advised residents who wager on unregulated gaming and sports betting firms that they may lose track of their wagers and become victims of identity or deposit theft.

According to the Great Lakes State authority, users of unregulated gaming portals have complained that winnings are not being paid or that they are unable to obtain a deposited refund.

Furthermore, they note that those who use unregulated websites have discovered that they lack recourse to seek money back through regulatory organizations or the courts. The Michigan gaming authority advised people on Monday that placing bets or gambling through unregulated, black market operators expose residents to unexpected consequences.

Henry Williams, executive director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), stated earlier this week that residents who wager on unregulated gaming websites may be unpleasantly shocked. He explained that individuals who utilize unregulated gaming websites run the risk of becoming a victim of deposit theft. Additionally, Williams stated that such gambling websites may disclose their users’ personal information to third parties, resulting in identity theft.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reports that thieves can utilize personal information to obtain medical care. What’s more concerning is that identity thieves can use the victim’s information to apply for credit or even file taxes using the victim’s information. These activities can have a significant negative impact on citizens’ credit scores.

Williams warned that sharing personal information with an unregulated gaming website does not ensure the information will not be sold to or exploited by criminals. He noted that identity theft is a frequent source of complaints to the Federal Trade Commission. Williams stated, citing data, that 1.3 million cases of identity theft were reported in the United States last year. 24,000 of the cases involved residents of Michigan.

The Watchdog Is Not Capable of Resolving Complaints Against Unregulated Operators.

The MGCB stated that it has received complaints from patrons alleging non-payment from unlicensed gambling websites. Additionally, residents have expressed dissatisfaction with the non-refunding of their deposits. Regrettably, the Control Board stated that it cannot assist in this issue because the wagers/deposits were placed with unregulated operators.

On that subject, Williams stated that the authority currently lacks a method for enforcing its rules against unregulated or offshore gambling operators. He stated that the agency lacks the jurisdiction to pursue disputes involving such operators. However, this is not the case for licensed gambling operators. This is why the MGCB published a comprehensive list of the state’s approved operators.

Keeping this in mind, unlicensed gaming operators may also be associated with other crimes. According to the MGCB, the FBI has identified unlicensed gaming operators that are associated with organized crime through money laundering. On the other hand, every licensed and regulated operator is required to adhere to established anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) regulations.

Record-setting October

Last month, it was revealed that Michigan’s online casino and poker rooms achieved a record $109.7 million in gross gaming revenue in October, up 7.1 percent from the $102.4 million generated a month earlier. This resulted in a $20.3 million state tax and a $7.8 million municipal tax. Since January, online gaming has pumped $220.8 million in state and local taxes.

“If you disclose personal information with an unregulated gambling site, you cannot be certain that it will not be sold to or exploited by criminals.”

“In contrast to regulated gambling, the MGCB has no process for resolving patron disputes with unregulated, offshore gambling sites.”