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Michigan’s continued crackdown on unregulated online gaming to another step this week when the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) sent cease-and-desist letters to three illegal online casinos: Cryptowins Casino, Slotlands Casino, and Winaday Casino.
MGCB Executive Director Heny Williams highlighted the danger of illegal iGaming sites in a statement about the letters.
“Michigan law is clear—if you want to offer internet gaming in this state, you must be licensed,” Williams said. “When unlicensed operators target Michigan residents, they’re not just breaking the law—they’re putting players at risk. Illegal gaming sites have no oversight, no consumer protections, and no guarantee that winnings will ever be paid out.”
The letters required the illegal operators to immediately stop accepting bets.
Why illegal online casinos pose a threat to gamblers
As Williams pointed out, illegal iGaming sites don’t operate under the same regulations that legal US online casinos do. State regulations tend to include rules governing who online casinos are allowed to hire, the level of user security they must have in place, game fairness, responsible gaming messaging, and how sites process player winnings.
“We have a strong regulatory system in place that ensures games are fair, operators are accountable, and players’ information and funds are secure,” Williams said. “When offshore or unregulated casinos try to bypass those rules, it undermines everything that makes our market safe and credible.”
Unregulated online casinos aren’t bound by law or regulations to do any of that. So, if an illegal iGaming site wanted to end its operations in Michigan, it could shut down its site and keep its players’ deposits and winnings.
Additionally, illegal sites aren’t bound by responsible gaming standards. Whereas a legal Michigan online casino may have to include a visible warning against problem gambling and offer resources for responsible gaming, an illegal operator doesn’t have to do anything of the sort.
Latest C&D letters continue MGCB’s emphasis on illegal gambling
This week’s cease-and-desist letters are the fourth group of such letters since late September to go out to illegal operators:
- September 23: Eight illegal operators targeted
- September 29: Six illegal operators targeted
- October 24: Eight illegal operators targeted
In all, the MGCB has sent letters to 25 illegal online casinos.
The persistent pursuit of unregulated operators earned a boost this past month when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a 2026 state budget that included funds to fight illegal gaming in the state.
“This budget reinforces the state’s commitment to protecting Michiganders through strong regulatory oversight, promoting integrity in gaming, and ensuring our agency has the resources needed to uphold public trust,” Williams said in a statement about the budget.
