The Michigan Gambling Control Board (MGCB) protects the well-being of residents in Michigan by investigating and stopping illegal gambling. Some bar owners in Michigan are complaining about its ‘threatening’ methods. The board says it stands by its actions and gives bar owners fair warning to comply with state gaming regulations.
The MGCB’s stance on illegal gambling
Over 60 businesses received cease-and-desist letters from the MGCB last year. This resulted in the removal of more than 165 illegal gambling machines. The whole purpose of the regulatory body is to uphold the integrity of gambling and protect players in the state.
Playing on illegal gaming machines means there aren’t any safeguards in place to protect the interests of players. They have no recourse if they are misled or taken advantage of. This isn’t the case when playing at a regulated Michigan online casino, which has to comply with MGCB laws to protect players and ensure fair gambling practices.
A gray area
Uncertainty about how to determine what’s legal or not is causing some anxiety and confusion. Michigan is particularly relevant in this debate as it is one of the most profitable online gambling destinations in the U.S. Businesses have invested considerable resources they want to protect.
Bar owners argue that the games they offer are games of skill which means they are legal. They say they aren’t the same as casino-style slot machines where winning depends on chance. The MGCB believes the public is being misled into thinking that skill and gift cards equate to the legality of a machine.
The board won’t be backing down
According to the MGCB, these machines are illegal and spread far and wide in the state. The use of gift cards or prizes doesn’t qualify them as a redemption game and they aren’t exempt from Michigan’s penal code. Illegal machines undermines the investment made by legitimate businesses in the online gaming world.
The board isn’t going to back down in its attempts to uphold the integrity of the state’s gambling regulations and ensure a fair and responsible gaming environment. It is concerned about the ease of access to these machines for minors and the damaging consequences this could have on them.
A goal of education and compliance
The MGCB wants businesses such as bars to thrive but to do so in a compliant way. It has a statutory charge to ensure honest and fair gaming in Michigan. Any business that operates in the state must comply with rules and regulations.
According to U.S. gambling laws, each state can decide what type of gambling to allow within its borders. They have their own gambling regulations and standards of punishment for violating them. The MGCB makes it clear what compliance with Michigan law entails and provides businesses with educational resources so they can understand this. It denies all implications that it has anything other in mind than the goal of education and compliance with the law.
The MGCB hopes that citizens and businesses will start taking note of the consequences of illegal gambling in Michigan. It encourages the public to report suspected unlawful gambling activities. By confiscating and liquidating assets related to illegal gambling, it believes it can help deter those considering engaging in dishonest practices.
In addition to seizing illegal gaming machines, Michigan regulators recently sent the offshore sports betting operator Bovada a cease-and-desist letter. The MCGB has zero tolerance for unregulated gaming of any kind and believes that illegal operators are a blight on the legitimate gambling industry.
