Michigan’s gaming regulator has joined the inaugural Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, a Nov. 9-13 international campaign urging people to verify an online gambling operator’s local licence before they place a bet.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board is directing residents to CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a free tool launched by the International Association of Gaming Regulators. In its Nov. 10 release, the board said users can enter a gambling website’s address to obtain licensing information for participating IAGR jurisdictions, drawn from regulatory records and other verified public sources. Regulatory technology company Sharp Vision contributed the tool.
The board will circulate IAGR campaign videos and social-media material during the week, while radio public-service announcements will run throughout November under the message: “Play it safe. Bet legal.” Residents should verify a site’s Michigan licence before opening an account, depositing money or sharing financial information.
Michigan requires licensed online casinos and sportsbooks to confirm players are at least 21, safeguard funds and personal data through secure payments, offer responsible-gaming measures including deposit and time limits, and honour the state’s Responsible Gaming Database. Licensed operators must also provide a means for customers to bring complaints to the MGCB.
The agency said offshore sites, unlicensed sweepstakes casinos and prediction markets offering sports contracts without a Michigan licence are not subject to those protections. Michigan generally prohibits gambling unless state law specifically authorizes it, and only MGCB-licensed operators may legally provide online gaming services in the state.
The board said it has sent hundreds of cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed online gambling operators. It also pointed to recent action against sports-event contracts: the state attorney general won a preliminary injunction against Kalshi in September, while Coinbase agreed in October to cease offering sports-related contracts to Michigan customers after a similar Robinhood agreement. Polymarket US agreed Oct. 28 to stop offering new sports-related contracts in Michigan and close existing Michigan residents’ contracts by Nov. 25. None of the four platforms is licensed by the MGCB to accept sports wagers in Michigan.
