Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison Fights Unlicensed Gambling
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has intensified efforts to eradicate unlicensed gambling platforms from the state by issuing cease-and-desist orders to 14 online casinos and sportsbooks that continue to target Minnesota residents. This action highlights a strong opposition to offshore and sweepstakes-style operators that Ellison states are violating state gambling and consumer-protection laws.
Renewed Orders Following Previous Warnings
The recent orders, announced on Wednesday, come after prior warnings sent in June by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division. These initial letters instructed companies to stop offering online gambling and sweepstakes services to residents of Minnesota. After receiving no compliance from these operators, Ellison’s office took further action by issuing a second wave of formal notifications.
“These online platforms may mislead users into believing online gambling is legal and safe in Minnesota, but it is not,” Ellison stated in an official communication. “Rebranding poker chips as virtual currencies doesn’t alter the illegality of these operations.”
Operators Targeted by Cease-and-Desist Orders
The cease-and-desist notices were issued to a combination of online sweepstakes casinos and offshore gambling sites, including VG LuckyLand, Zula Casino, Fortune Coins, BetAnySports, BetUs, XBet, BetNow, BetWhale, EveryGame Sportsbook, BetOnline, Slotsandcasino, Bovada, MyBookie.com, and Sportsbetting.com. Each platform must provide written confirmation of their cessation of operations within Minnesota by December 1, or face further legal repercussions. The notices warn of potential civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation and possible restitution if operators continue to defy state law.
Minnesota’s Legal Framework on Gambling
According to Minnesota law, online gambling, including casino games and sports betting, remains illegal. Legal gambling avenues are restricted to tribal casinos, horse racing, the state lottery, and charitable gaming. Despite a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing states to legalize online sports betting, Minnesota has yet to implement such legislation. “Unlawful online casinos pose significant risks to Minnesota consumers,” noted Bob Jacobson, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. “These platforms operate mostly from outside the U.S. to evade regulations.”
Nationwide Efforts Against Unlicensed Gambling
Minnesota’s actions are part of a broader national initiative to tackle unlicensed gambling operations. Recently, regulators in Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia issued similar cease-and-desist letters to many of the same brands targeted in Minnesota’s crackdown. Other states, including Washington and Massachusetts, have undertaken parallel actions against offshore or sweepstakes casinos, indicating a growing movement to curtail illegal gambling practices across the country. “These operators exploit legal gaps to attract players to unregulated zones,” Ellison added.
