Arizona regulator warns players over gambling with “fraudulent” casinos
State’s Department of Gaming issues a consumer protection alert concerning illegal casinos masquerading as licensed platforms as part of a “concerning nationwide trend”
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has warned players in the state to be vigilant of illegal casinos posing as licensed platforms.
Yesterday, March 31, the regulator issued a consumer protection alert to customers entitled, “Rise in Fraudulent Online Casinos Targeting Arizonans.”
The alert drew attention to illegal operators offering online casino services, despite igaming being prohibited in the Grand Canyon State.
Illegal operators are using social media adverts to scam players, often misleading customers to download apps or visit unlicensed websites, the regulator said.
After receiving multiple reports of fraudulent casinos targeting players, in addition to complaints from customers, the ADG has reminded customers of the dangers of gambling with unlicensed platforms.
These include financial loss via fake gaming platforms as well as identity theft resulting from sharing personal or financial information.
In addition to the potential financial losses for players, the ADG warned customers that these illegal platforms “undermine the integrity of Arizona’s regulated gaming industry.”
An ADG statement read: “The Arizona Department of Gaming urges residents to verify the legitimacy of any online gaming platform before engaging in play.
“Many of these operations are not legal or regulated, leaving users vulnerable to fraud, identity theft, and other serious risks.
“Due to their unregulated nature, ADG is unable to resolve complaints and disputes arising from unregulated and illegal gaming sites, leaving victims with little to no chance of recovering lost funds.
“It is important to remember that just because you can download the app, visit the website, and play the games, it does not mean it is a legitimate and legal gaming platform.”
The ADG added that players should be wary of illegal platforms mimicking the branding of licensed operators, any welcome offers which look “too good to be true,” and any incorrect website URLs which have slight misspellings or the wrong domain extension.
Back in February, the regulator sent a similar warning to players regarding the dangers of gambling with sweepstakes operators.