Coalition of Attorneys General urges DOJ crackdown on offshore gambling

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Today, a bipartisan coalition of 50 attorneys general called on the U.S. Department of Justice to take decisive action against the growing threat of illegal offshore gambling operations. In a letter addressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the coalition urged the DOJ to prioritize enforcement efforts targeting unlawful online sports betting and gaming platforms that operate outside the bounds of U.S. law.

The coalition emphasized that these offshore entities—often based overseas—frequently operate without proper licensure, fail to implement meaningful consumer protections, and evade state regulations and tax obligations. These platforms pose significant risks to consumers, particularly young people and vulnerable populations, and undermine the integrity of state-regulated gaming markets.

In their letter, the attorneys general outlined the broader societal harms associated with illegal online gambling, including its links to fraudulent schemes, problem gambling, money laundering, and other criminal activity. The coalition cited estimates suggesting that illegal online gaming may exceed $400 billion in annual volume, resulting in more than $4 billion in lost tax revenue for states.

To address these concerns, the coalition urged the DOJ to:

- Pursue injunctive relief under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to block access to illegal websites and associated payment systems;
- Seize assets—including servers, domains, and financial proceeds—used in connection with unlawful gaming operations;
- Collaborate with state authorities, financial institutions, and payment processors to disrupt the financial infrastructure supporting illegal gambling.

The letter was co-sponsored by Attorneys General William Tong (Connecticut), Andrea Joy Campbell (Massachusetts), Mike Hilgers (Nebraska), and Derek Brown (Utah). Attorneys general of the following states and territories joined the bipartisan coalition: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming.