Mississippi Targets Illegal Gambling Websites Parading as Legal Entities

Mississippi Gaming Commission has sent cease-and-desist letters to ten companies in the state, as the regulator seeks to crack down on unlicensed operators that are offering games of chance and sports betting products without the necessary permits.

Mississippi Quick to Act Against Illegal Gambling Companies

These companies argue that the regulator’s boss, Jay McDaniel, has gone to great lengths to convince people that they are legitimate, including the use of images and branding of established gambling establishments, which were misappropriated to mislead people into believing that an illegal gambling site was in fact legitimate.

“The MGC will aggressively pursue both domestic and offshore illegal operators, and the MGC is currently providing criminal case files to our state and federal law enforcement partners and requesting prosecution,” McDaniel said.

Land-based and coastal casinos’ identity has been co-opted by opportunistic illegal operators, explained McDaniel, with the commission identifying cases of the use of such image on social media platforms, such as Facebook, to create promotions that claimed the illegal websites were regulated and somehow tied to the established physical venues.

The commission has issued the letters by mail and electronically and expects compliance within 14 days of receiving the letter. In its letter, the regulator argues that the websites have breached a litany of local laws, among which are the Mississippi Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, the Mississippi Gaming Control Act, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, the Federal Wire Act of 1961, and the Illegal Gambling Business Act.

Mississippi Residents Entitled to Recovery Against Illegal Platforms

McDaniel criticized the venality of the companies that had co-opted branding to mislead locals in Mississippi into gambling with their platforms. There is no benefit for players playing at these websites, either, argues McDanie, who says that the platforms operate without paying tax, nor ensuring that a rigorous standard of player safety is met.

The regulator has reminded players that they may be entitled to recovery with costs under Mississippi law, in cases where a player has lost money or other tangible assets to one of these gambling websites. Mississippi is also targeting sweepstakes, as the state is one of many to deem these operations illegal.