DOJ insists it is taking illegal gambling “seriously”
In a letter sent to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the DOJ reaffirmed it was working with the FBI to clamp down on illegal operators
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reiterated its stance that it approaches illegal gambling “seriously” in a letter sent to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
The letter, which was penned by DOJ intergovernmental liaison Megan Bennett, was part of a response to seven state regulators that appealed for more resources to fight illegal gambling.
In April, regulators from Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Nevada wrote to DOJ Attorney General Merrick Garland. The letter said: “As the primary regulators of the legal gaming industry in our seven states, we write today to urge the Department of Justice to prioritize combatting illegal offshore sportsbooks and online casinos.
“The dangers posed by these unlawful operations are well known, including a lack of investment in responsible gaming programs, loss of state tax revenue that funds important initiatives, no age verification requirements to protect minors, no controls to prevent money laundering, an absence of guarantees that customers will receive fair payouts and much more.”
The regulators were also supported by American Gaming Association (AGA) CEO Bill Miller who also wrote to Garland in April on the same topic.
In her response, Bennett noted how big a priority this issue is to the DOJ.
She said the DOJ works with the FBI to clamp down on illegal operations, as the FBI forwards allegations to the appropriate authority in the corresponding jurisdiction.
In her letter, Bennett said: “The department takes seriously the issue of illegal gambling, including illegal online gambling, and continues to successfully investigate and prosecute illegal internet gambling.
“The FBI works hard to establish and maintain strong partnerships with both public and private entities to combat illegal gaming.
“The department appreciates the adverse illegal gaming has on individuals and communities and will continue to use all available tools to detect, investigate, and prosecute illegal activity.”
It was estimated in a report by the AGA last November that more than $500bn was gambled through unregulated gambling sites each year.