News: Arizona Sends Cease-And-Desist Orders To More Sweepstakes Sportsbooks And Casinos
Editor’s note: The Cashout, with a gambling news roundup, will publish on Sunday.
Arizona’s gaming regulator sent cease-and-desist orders to a number of sweepstakes casinos and sportsbooks this week.
Here is the list of sweepstakes sites that the Arizona Department of Gaming ordered to stop operating for offering unlicensed gambling in the state.
Novig
Rebet
Stake.us
High5
ADG also sent an order to BettorEdge, which allows users to bet against each other. The site says it is legal in 45 states.
Two raffle operators also received letters.
From a press release on the orders:
This week, the Arizona Department of Gaming (“ADG”) took enforcement action against several unlicensed and unregulated gambling operators, both within the U.S. and abroad, that have been illegally targeting Arizona residents. In line with its commitment to protecting the public and enforcing state gaming laws, ADG issued multiple cease-and-desist orders to entities engaged in unauthorized gambling activities. …
“Illegal gambling, regardless of the platform or format, has no place in Arizona,” said Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG. “Whether it’s online casino-style games, sweepstakes models, or unauthorized sports betting, any operation that falls outside Arizona’s legal and regulatory framework will face enforcement action. Illegal gambling doesn’t just break the law; it robs our state’s economy and puts consumers at risk. The Department stands firmly with our licensed and regulated operators who are following the rules, contributing to Arizona’s economic health, and upholding the protections that a regulated market provides.”
The new cease-and-desist letters come on the heels of a similar action in April, when the ADG sent orders to sweeps and offshore gambling operators. Sweepstakes operators told to cease operations at that time included Modo Casino (the new owner of Publisher’s Clearing House) and ProphetX. The terms and conditions of both of those sweepstakes operators now list Arizona as a state they do not serve.
The latest C&Ds come as several states have passed bills to ban sweepstakes gaming, with New Jersey and California still considering legislation.