Minnesota is not here for your offshore crap.
That was the message from the state’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison, who just sent a not-so-friendly batch of cease-and-desist letters to 14 online gambling sites running wild without permission. Apparently, these operators thought they could sneak into the state, set up a digital shop, and call it “social gaming.” Minnesota disagrees.
Ellison didn’t mince words:
“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. Trying to rebrand poker chips as virtual currencies does not change the fact that these online gambling operations are unlawful. By continuing to operate online gambling sites in Minnesota, these operators are likely openly defying our state’s laws, and I will not stand for it.”
Who Got the Letter?
The list was lengthy, with a mix of familiar and not-so-familiar names:
- BetAnySports
- BetNow
- BetOnline
- BetUS
- BetWhale
- Bovada
- EveryGame Sportsbook
- Fortune Coins
- MyBookie.com
- Slotsandcasino
- Sportsbetting.com
- VG Luckyland
- XBet
- Zula Casino
These letters mark a second push. Earlier this summer, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division sent warning letters to the same sites in June. The first one was more like a polite tap on the shoulder. This time, it’s a full-on stare-down.
Why Minnesota Is Acting Now
According to Ellison’s team, a lot of these sites are playing dress-up. They sell virtual coin bundles — one kind just for fun and another you can actually cash out. The state’s not buying the “it’s social gaming” excuse. In their words, it’s gambling with a new coat of paint.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers are still wondering why Minnesota can’t just get with the program and make online betting legal already. A deal almost came together last year, but things fell apart when a group of legislators hit the brakes. The sticking point? Whether only the tribes should get the rights or if horse racing tracks should also get a piece of the action.
Why the Cleanup Is a Big Deal for Everyone
For the operators themselves, if they ignore those warnings, the bills start coming. They could be hit with huge civil penalties, forced to refund money to players, and even get blocked entirely by internet providers. Minnesota is essentially trying to kick them off the internet.
Now for you, the player, your payouts might vanish faster than a winning hand in a rigged poker game, and there’s no safety net if things go south.
What is interesting is that Minnesota is hardly alone in this fight. States like California, Connecticut, and Montana have all passed laws this year targeting that exact sweepstakes casino model.
Even Utah has a number of lawsuits filed against sweepstakes casinos.
When Banned Operators Just Wait for the Next Ride
Here’s the funny part. Getting kicked out isn’t always the end of the story. Plenty of operators have packed their bags when regulators came knocking, only to return later once the dust settled. It’s a weird kind of trend. Call it the “leave now, license later” loop.
So maybe these operators will be back, this time through the front door instead of sneaking in through the window.
Until then, Minnesota’s message stands: play legally or don’t play at all.
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