The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), the gambling regulator in the midwestern state, says it has issued nearly 100 cease-and-desist letters to unauthorized gambling operators.
The regulator shared the insights as it joined the 2025 North American Gaming Regulators Association (NAGRA) Annual Training and Education Conference, which was held at the beginning of June in Tennessee.
MGCB’s Criminal Investigations Section Manager John Lessnau represented the agency at the conference, with a case study presented and a discussion facilitated on “how Michigan is setting the standard nationwide in combatting illegal and unregulated gaming operators.”
The cease-and-desist letters have included high-profile offshore websites, with the regulator stating it continues to pursue new cases with more enforcement actions expected in the months ahead.
“These efforts underscore the agency’s commitment to upholding integrity in Michigan’s legal, regulated gaming market,” a press release states.
Michigan regulator attends NAGRA annual conference
“The MGCB’s aggressive stance on illegal and offshore gambling has drawn national recognition and strengthened its partnerships with regulatory peers across the U.S.”
The control board has been around for some time, with it having been founded in 1996 and formed a year later. It was in 1997 when Michigan passed the Gaming Control and Revenue Act which enabled three casinos to open in Detroit.
This included the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino, and the Greektown Casino Hotel. The same three casinos reported a combined $114.0 million in revenue for May 2025.
Later, sports betting was legalized and online mobile sportsbooks, casinos and poker sites were launched in 2021. Since then, the state has seen a huge boom in the industry. In May, commercial and tribal gaming operators in Michigan reported a substantial figure of $301.43 million in gross receipts from internet gaming and internet sports betting.
“Michigan is at the forefront of the national conversation on illegal gambling, and we were proud to share how our efforts are making a real impact,” MGCB Criminal Investigations Section Manager John Lessnau said in the press release.
“We’re leveraging every tool available—from anonymous tip lines and interagency partnerships to direct enforcement and public awareness—to crack down on illegal gaming operations that threaten consumer protection and undermine legal businesses.”
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
