The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) would like to remind all would-be online sportsbook and Michigan casino gamblers that there is a big difference between regulated gaming sites that the MGCB has oversight over and the illegal, offshore sites that the MGCB has zero oversight over.
In short: Unless you’re looking to have your identity stolen or your deposits swiped, stick with the regulated sportsbooks and casinos.
“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,” Henry Williams, the executive director of the MGCB, said in a press release. “Identity theft is the most common complaint received by the Federal Trade Commission. In 2020, 1.3 million identity theft reports were made in the U.S., including more than 24,000 cases of identity theft reported in Michigan.”
The risks of going the unregulated route
Despite the legalization of online sports betting and online casinos in Michigan, Williams notes plenty of people are still using the unregulated sites. Based on complaints filed to the MGCB, unregulated gambling site customers have reported winnings not being paid out, deposits being stuck in limbo, and other shady activities. And because they are unregulated, the MGCB has zero recourse in seeking to recover the money through the courts or regulatory agencies.
“Unlike regulated gambling, there is no mechanism for the MGCB to handle a patron dispute with an unregulated, offshore gambling site,” Williams said. “Our agency does not have the authority to pursue a dispute with an unregulated site.”
On its website, the MGCB offers a list of authorized/approved internet casino gaming and online sports betting sites licensed by the MGCB.
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