American Gaming Association calls on federal government to rein in illegal gambling
Betting advocacy group urges Department of Justice to crack down on unlicensed offshore sites serving US citizens
The American Gaming Association (AGA) has called on the US federal government to clamp down on illegal gambling, articulating its concerns in an open letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
In the letter, the industry trade body urges the Department of Justice (DoJ) to go after all forms of non-regulated gambling, including offshore sportsbooks and casinos, as well as unregulated ‘skill game’ machines.
“While the challenge of illegal gambling is not new, the brazen and coordinated manner in which it occurs – both online and in communities – has elevated this problem to a level that requires significant federal attention,” AGA president and CEO Bill Miller said.
“We urge the Department to make it a priority to act [on non-regulated gambling] to protect American consumers, crack down on illegal operators and enforce federal regulations.”
The AGA outlines how sports betting is authorized in 33 states and the District of Columbia, making regulated options currently available – or soon to be – to over 150 million American adults.
However, the continued prevalence of black- and gray-market operations represents an ongoing threat to American consumers, who are oftentimes unaware of the difference between regulated and non-regulated operators.
The AGA cites prominent offshore operations such as BetOnline, Bovada and MyBookie as the primary culprits.
All three have consistent presences across social media and strong search engine optimization (SEO), which can help them blend in with the FanDuels and DraftKings of the world when it comes to content and marketing.
That obfuscation lies at the heart of the AGA’s call for federal intervention.
“These bad actors prey on vulnerable customers, offer no consumer protections, do not ensure integrity or fair play, and generate no economic benefit for states or tribal nations,” Miller said.
As a result, the AGA is asking the DOJ to investigate and indict offshore operators, clarify that ‘skill-based’ machine manufacturers must comply with the Johnson Act, and continue to provide consumer education about regulated gambling options.