The Michigan Gaming Management Board (MGCB) has issued a formal cease-and-desist letter to Duranbah Restricted N.V., the operator of MyBookie.ag, a preferred on-line playing platform based mostly in Curaçao. This web site, which isn’t licensed to function in Michigan, presents varied casino-style video games comparable to slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps, alongside sports activities betting and horse racing choices.
Unlicensed playing and state legislation violations:
Within the cease-and-desist letter, MGCB Govt Director Henry Williams highlighted the intense issues raised by MyBookie.ag’s accessibility to Michigan residents, stressing that it violates a number of state laws governing playing operations.
“Our investigation into MyBookie.ag discovered that their operations had been accessible to Michigan residents, which violates state legal guidelines,” Williams said within the regulator’s press launch. “We’re taking sturdy motion to uphold the ideas of truthful and authorized gaming.”
MyBookie.ag’s operations inside Michigan come beneath scrutiny for a number of violations of state legal guidelines, together with the Lawful Web Gaming Act and the Michigan Gaming Management and Income Act. These laws stipulate that on-line gaming actions should be carried out solely by operators licensed by the MGCB or federally licensed tribal casinos inside Michigan. Since MyBookie.ag is just not licensed in Michigan, its actions breach these important legal guidelines, which might lead to vital authorized penalties for the corporate.
The MGCB’s investigation revealed that MyBookie.ag gives a variety of fee strategies for account deposits, together with Visa, MasterCard, American Specific, PayPal, cryptocurrencies comparable to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, and even MoneyGram. Nevertheless, withdrawals from the platform can solely be made utilizing Bitcoin or by way of financial institution wire switch.
Regardless of these fee strategies, the shortage of a legitimate Michigan playing license means MyBookie.ag is working illegally, and beneath Michigan legislation, working a playing enterprise with out correct licensing is classed as a felony. This offense carries penalties of as much as 10 years in jail, fines of as much as $100,000, or each.
The cease-and-desist letter mandates that Duranbah Restricted N.V. stop all playing operations directed towards Michigan residents inside 14 days of receiving the discover. If the corporate fails to adjust to this directive, the MGCB has made it clear that it’ll work with the Michigan Lawyer Common’s Workplace to pursue additional authorized motion.
The MGCB has additionally issued a warning to Michigan residents, urging them to be cautious when participating in on-line gaming actions. The company has suggested people to confirm that any on-line playing platform they use is correctly licensed inside the state.
Influence on different states and authorized precedents:
This isn’t the primary time {that a} state regulator has taken motion towards unlicensed on-line playing operators. Michigan’s motion towards MyBookie.ag follows comparable steps taken towards different offshore platforms, comparable to Bovada, which has confronted scrutiny in a number of states. The success of Michigan’s enforcement motion might encourage different state gaming boards to concern their very own cease-and-desist orders to corporations working with out correct licenses.
Whereas Bovada has cooperated with state regulators by blocking entry for customers in restricted states, it stays to be seen whether or not MyBookie.ag will do the identical or struggle these efforts. If MyBookie.ag agrees to stop its operations in Michigan, it might immediate different states to behave swiftly, probably setting a precedent for additional crackdowns on offshore gaming corporations.
For now, the MGCB is targeted on guaranteeing that Michigan residents will not be uncovered to unlawful playing dangers. The state’s gaming regulators are persevering with to watch the state of affairs intently and are ready to take further authorized measures if crucial.
The MGCB encourages residents to report any unlicensed playing actions they arrive throughout. This permits the state company to research and take acceptable motion towards unauthorized playing operators.
