The Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) warned state residents that a nationwide gambling scam has reached the Show Me State. The perpetrators are falsely advertising as retail casinos and claiming that their brands are “going online.”
Missouri legislators have not legalized real-money online casinos. However, the rapidly changing US gambling landscape and proliferation of gambling alternatives like sweepstakes casinos have created confusion among consumers, and scammers are seeking to take advantage of that.
The fake online casinos use the real logos from actual local gambling companies that are legal in the state to trick individuals into believing their ads are legitimate. The MGC said in a statement:
“These scams not only put players at a financial risk, they also undermine the integrity of Missouri’s regulated gaming industry.”
Sports betting is the only legal form of real-money online gambling in Missouri.
MGC’s hands are tied
The MCG has control over the regulated gambling industry, which includes sports betting and retail casinos. However, it doesn’t have much power in stopping fraudulent advertisements, it acknowledged in its statement:
“Due to their unregulated nature, the MGC is unable to resolve complaints and disputes arising from unregulated and illegal gaming sites, leaving victims with little to no chance in recovering of recovering lost funds.
“It is important to remember that just because you can download the app, visit the website, and play the games, it does not mean it is a legitimate and legal gambling platform.”
The MGC highlighted the following steps individuals should take if encountering suspicious online operations:
- Document the website URL, app, business and promotional materials.
- Report it to the Federal Internet Crime Complaint Center: https://www.ic3.gov/.
- Cease activity on the platform and monitor financial accounts for unauthorized transactions.
Other states dealing with similar issue
Markets all across the country, especially without online casinos, are dealing with their fair share of scammers, too. There are only seven states that have legalized iGaming.
Prairie Band Casino & Resort saw fake ads using its company logo to portray that it had launched an online gambling platform, with a $1,500 bonus offer, which was bogus. Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Mississippi experienced a similar situation. Their fake bonus offer was $1,000.
The scam reached California earlier this year as Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino dealt with numerous fake advertisements.
It appears as if the scams first started in Canada, when provinces legalized online casinos back in 2023. Bonus.com warned that similar scenarios could reach the United States, too.
The US has certainly reached that point as illegal platforms have skyrocketed as of late.
