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- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has intensified efforts to halt unlicensed online gambling platforms targeting state residents.
- With 14 offshore and sweepstakes-style operators now facing cease-and-desist orders, the crackdown is part of a broader national push to protect bettors from unregulated and potentially risky gambling sites.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison recently reissued cease-and-desist orders to 14 offshore and sweepstakes-style online casinos and sportsbooks operating illegally within the state.
This move follows initial warnings sent in June by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, which went unheeded by these operators. The targeted platforms include operators such as VG LuckyLand, BetUS, BetOnline, Bovada, and Sportsbetting.com.
“Online platforms offering sportsbooks and casino games run by out-of-state and overseas operators may make it look as though online gambling is legal and safe in Minnesota, but let me be clear: it is not,” Ellison said in an official statement. “Trying to rebrand poker chips as virtual currencies does not change the fact that these online gambling operations are unlawful.”
These operators must cease all operations and marketing in the state by Dec. 1 or face civil penalties, restitution, and injunctions from the state. Based on how operators have handled previous cease-and-desist orders from other states, there is likely to be little pushback. Of course, they were sent initial warnings in June, so we will see.
Operators could face $25K penalty per violation
This crackdown signifies a strengthened commitment to legal protections against unauthorized online gambling platforms. State law currently prohibits real-money online casinos and sports betting. The state legislature has discussed legalizing online sports betting for the last few years, but a bill has yet to be approved by the House or the Senate. No doubt another bill will likely get put before legislators in 2026.
Financially, operators face steep penalties up to $25,000 per violation, creating a strong deterrent against continuing illegal operations. This move also signals to operators nationwide that unlicensed platforms exploiting legal “gray” areas will face intensified scrutiny and enforcement.
Minnesota’s enforcement aligns with other states cracking down on unlicensed gambling operators, reflecting a national trend emphasizing consumer safety and legal compliance.
Based on reporting by World Casino Directory.
