FBI Tells the Public to Be Mindful of Responsible Gambling

After a report surfaced linking game days in states with sports betting to an increase in assaults and other forms of crime, the FBI issued a statement in which it warned the public to steer clear of illegal gambling.

The FBI has played a central role in tackling illegal gambling this year, with the enforcement agency busting a Mafia-linked gambling ring within the NBA and bringing several prominent current and former insiders to justice.

FBI Cutions Public Against Participating in Illegal Gambling

In a statement on Thursday last week, the FBI warned that illegal gambling is having a severe impact on the local economy and creates pitfalls for local sports bettors. 

Despite regulated sports gambling growing and being maintained in 39 states presently, according to the FBI, illegal websites continue to target these jurisdictions and try to syphon off players.

These platforms have a severe impact on the economy, game integrity, and the public, with many sports bettors and fans reporting that they mistrust professional athletes and think they may be involved in match-fixing.

The American Gaming Association estimates that Americans still spend as much as $673.6 billion. 

“These illegal sportsbooks and online gaming sites have significant consequences for the American public, the U.S. economy, and the integrity of sports betting in the US,” the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center said in a statement.

Criminals Use Illegal Gambling Sites to Launder Proceeds

The FBI also acknowledged that many offshore sports betting platforms are purposefully trying to hide their true colors, posing as licensed operations instead. 

The FBI Crime and Corruption in Sports and Gaming also reports that such platforms are often backed by criminal activities, which use ill-gotten funds to sustain their operations and launder the proceeds of crime, such as human trafficking, illegal weapons trade, and drugs.