The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) announced it had sent a cease-and-desist letter to three offshore operators accepting illegal wagers in the Sunshine State.
The bookmakers and casinos were revealed to be BetUS.com.pa, Bovada.lv, and MyBookie.ag.
“Gaming, both land-based and online, is strictly regulated in Florida. For example, when it comes to slot machine gaming, counting the eight legal, state-licensed slot machine businesses and the six tribal gaming locations currently operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, there are only fourteen legal slot machine businesses in Florida,” explained Florida Gaming Control Commission Executive Director Ross Marshman.
“The only online sportsbook operating lawfully in Florida is the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Hard Rock Bet. Anyone in Florida betting on the Big Game (Super Bowl) needs to know this. Bettor beware.”
An excerpt of the cease-and-desist letter explained why these online gaming operators had broken regulated laws in Florida. It is illegal for any online gambling website, not operated by the Seminole Tribe, to accept or offer wagers on sports and horse racing.
The Seminole Tribe-owned sportsbook, Hard Rock Bet, is the only legal online sports betting platform available to Floridians after its lawsuit with West Flager was dropped in 2024.
The Gaming Control Board also reiterated that revenue generated by Seminole Tribe-owned slot machines is used to fund various state programs, including the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund of Florida which has received over $240 million in tax funding.
MyBookie.ag Ordered to Leave Michigan
On January 23, the Michigan Gaming Control Board announced that it had sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Curacao-based operator Duranbah Limited N.V. for allowing its online gambling platform MyBookie.ag to operate in the Great Lakes State.
“Our investigation into MyBookie.ag found that their operations were accessible to Michigan citizens, which violates state laws. We are taking strong action to uphold the principles of fair and legal gaming,” said Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Willaims.
MyBookie.ag had offered players in the Great Lakes State various casino-style games like slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps while also allowing Michigan users to place bets on sporting games and horse races.
Under Michigan regulations, the Gaming Control Board deemed that MyBookie.ag had breached several state laws and operated without a valid gambling license. The online casino had broken Michigan’s Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, and the Michigan Penal Code.
Duranbah was given 14 days to cease all operations in Michigan after accepting the letter. If not, the Michigan Gaming Control Board revealed that it was prepared to collaborate with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to resolve the issue.
