Michigan Slaps Offshore BetUS with Cease-and-Desist for Illegal Betting Operations

MGCB Cracks Down

Michigan’s Gaming Control Board (MGCB) dropped a cease-and-desist order on BetUS, a Costa Rica-based offshore gambling platform, for illegally offering sports betting and casino games to state residents without a license.

The move targets BetUS’s unauthorized operations, which violate Michigan’s gaming laws and threaten consumer safety. The MGCB’s action underscores Michigan’s push to shield its regulated betting market, one of the nation’s largest since legalizing online gaming in 2021.

BetUS’s Offshore Play

Founded in 1994, BetUS boasts over a million global clients, offering sports betting, esports, casino games, and horse racing. Licensed only in the Comoros Union (Mwali), it lacks Michigan authorization.

Its platform, accessible via mobile and supporting crypto transactions, includes live betting and quirky proposition bets on sports, politics, and pop culture.

MGCB investigations found BetUS accepting wagers from Michigan residents on these activities, flouting state regulations.

BetUS’s operations breach multiple Michigan laws, including the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Gaming Control and Revenue Act, and the Michigan Penal Code. These laws mandate licensing for all online gambling, ensuring consumer protections and tax contributions.

Michigan’s 20% sports betting tax and 28% iGaming tax fund schools and problem gambling programs, per the Detroit News. “Unlicensed operators like BetUS undermine the integrity of Michigan’s regulated gaming market and expose consumers to potential risks,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams.