DETROIT, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Michigan residents who place wagers on unregulated gaming sites may gamble on more than they expected and become identity theft or deposit theft victims, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB).
“If you share personal information with an unregulated gambling site, there are no guarantees your information won’t be sold to or used by criminals,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said in a statement. “Identity theft is the most common complaint received by the Federal Trade Commission. In 2020, 1.3 million identity theft reports were made in the U.S., including more than 24,000 cases of identity theft reported in Michigan.”
The federal Internal Revenue Service says thieves use personal information to apply for credit, file taxes or obtain medical services. This unauthorized activity can damage credit status and cost time and money to recover.
Based on complaints to the MGCB, unregulated gambling site patrons say winnings are not being paid or they can’t obtain a deposited refund. Officials say patrons using unregulated sites don’t have recourse to seek recovery of their money through regulatory agencies or the courts.
“Unlike regulated gambling, there is no mechanism for the MGCB to handle a patron dispute with an unregulated, offshore gambling site,” Williams said. “Our agency does not have the authority to pursue a dispute with an unregulated site.”
Other crimes are associated with unregulated gambling sites. The Federal Bureau of Investigations has identified unregulated online gambling as supporting organized crime through money laundering.
By contrast, regulated casinos and online gaming sites must follow know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering requirements.
On its website, the MGCB offers a list of authorized/approved internet casino gaming and online sports betting sites licensed by the MGCB.
For more information, click here.
Further Reading –
In a related matter, the Michigan Lottery is warning customers to be aware of scams surrounding lottery prizes.
For more information on that story, click here.
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