Minnesota Attorney General issues cease-and-desist orders to 14 gambling sites

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued cease-and-desist orders to 14 unlicensed offshore sportsbooks and sweepstakes-style casinos, directing them to stop operating in the state by Dec. 1, as part of an intensified crackdown on illegal online gambling platforms targeting Minnesota residents.

The move follows warnings issued in June by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, which were ignored by the operators. The targeted platforms include VG LuckyLand, BetAnySports, BetUS, XBet, BetNow, BetWhale, BetOnline, Slotsandcasino, EveryGame, Bovada, Sportsbetting.com, Zula Casino, Fortune Coins, and MyBookie.

“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,” Ellison said in a statement. 

“Trying to rebrand poker chips as virtual currencies does not change the fact that these online gambling operations are unlawful,” he added.

Operators who fail to comply with the December deadline could face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, restitution, and potential injunctions.

The action aligns with a growing national push by state regulators to protect consumers from unregulated gambling platforms. Several states have recently stepped up enforcement measures against offshore operators offering sports betting and casino-style games without proper licensing.

Ellison highlighted that real-money online casinos and sports betting remain illegal in Minnesota, although lawmakers have debated legalization in recent years. A new bill could be introduced in 2026, according to experts. 

The latest enforcement also targets sweepstakes-style social casinos that use virtual currencies called sweeps coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes. Critics argue that the model blurs the line between free-to-play gaming and real-money gambling.

The crackdown comes just days after Google declassified sweepstakes casinos from advertising on its Search and YouTube platforms, further isolating the controversial industry.

“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,” Ellison said.