
The Michigan Gaming Control Board sent a cease-and-desist letter to illegal offshore sportsbook MyBookie.ag last week.
The letter orders MyBookie’s owner, Duranbah Limited N.V., to cease operations in the state within 14 days of receipt.
Michigan’s letter to MyBookie is the latest in a wave of crackdowns on offshore sports betting operators from multiple state regulators.
Letter to MyBookie points to three key state laws
The MGCB cited violations of three state laws in its letter to MyBookie:
- Lawful Internet Gaming Act: Requires all sportsbook operators in the state to be licensed.
- Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act: Imposes up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000 for illegal sportsbooks.
- Michigan Penal Code: It’s illegal for unlicensed sportsbooks to accept money with the understanding that any payouts are based on “uncertain” events.
“Our investigation into MyBookie.ag found that their operations were accessible to Michigan citizens, which violates state laws,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said in a news release. “We are taking strong action to uphold the principles of fair and legal gaming.”
As part of its news release about the cease-and-desist letter, the MGCB encouraged consumers to check the board’s list of licensed internet gaming operators to ensure the sites that consumers use are legal.
Prominent offshore sportsbook Bovada gets boot in multiple states
The MGCB was able to get the offshore book Bovada to stop operating in its state last year after sending a cease-and-desist letter.
And Michigan wasn’t alone in that. At least five other states sent Bovada a letter in 2024 asking it to cease its business:
- July 2024: West Virginia
- August 2024: Ohio
- September 2024: Kansas and Pennsylvania
- October 2024: Massachusetts