Share 
State of Play’s TL;DR
- The Michigan Gaming Control Board joined Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, Nov. 9–13, according to michigan.gov.
- The International Association of Gaming Regulators launched CheckBeforeYouPlay.org to check available licensing information in participating jurisdictions, according to michigan.gov.
- The Illinois Gaming Board also joined the campaign, according to illinois.gov.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is urging residents to verify that online gambling sites hold a Michigan license as part of an international campaign against unlicensed operators, according to michigan.gov.
Organized by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), the campaign focuses on identifying unlicensed gambling sites before consumers place wagers. Its reach includes Arizona, Great Britain, and Ontario.
How Michigan players can check a gambling site
IAGR’s free CheckBeforeYouPlay.org tool lets consumers enter a site’s web address to check available licensing information for participating member jurisdictions. The MGCB also advises residents to consult its list of licensed online casinos and sportsbooks before creating an account, depositing money, or sharing personal information.
“Illegal gambling operators want you to believe they’re just another option. They’re not,”
MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said in the release published by michigan.gov.
Michigan’s licensed online casinos and sportsbooks must verify that players are 21 or older, protect funds and personal information, provide responsible gaming tools, honor the state’s Responsible Gaming Database, and offer a route for complaints to the MGCB.
The MGCB warns that cryptocurrency-only payments, guaranteed winnings, and missing age or identity checks are warning signs. Familiar-looking branding or promotion by an influencer is no substitute for checking a Michigan license, the agency advises.
Michigan highlights sports-contract enforcement
The awareness push accompanies enforcement. The MGCB has sent hundreds of cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed online gambling operators, according to michigan.gov.
Michigan’s Department of Attorney General secured a preliminary injunction in September barring Kalshi from offering sports event contracts to Michigan residents. In October, Coinbase agreed to stop offering sports-related event contracts to Michigan customers, including contracts traded on Kalshi, following a similar agreement with Robinhood.
The MGCB said Kalshi, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Polymarket US are not licensed by the agency to accept sports wagers in Michigan.
Under a federal court-approved agreement reached Oct. 28, Polymarket US agreed to stop offering new sports-related event contracts in Michigan and close Michigan residents’ open contracts by Nov. 25.
More from playusa.com
- Hard Rock Bet Adds 26 Casino Games Across NJ, Michigan and Florida
- Michigan Online Casino Receipts Stay Elevated as State Highlights Player Protections, Offshore Crackdowns
- Hard Rock Bet Records Major Wins in September, Led by $843,700 MLB Parlay
Sources: As reported by michigan.gov, illinois.gov, and InterGame.
