Michigan Steps Up Illegal Gambling Fight as New License Checker Launches

Published on November 13th, 2026

Online poker game on a laptop with poker chips and the Detroit skyline, illustrating Michigan's crackdown on illegal gambling sites.

Key Details

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is taking part in Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, held November 9–13, 2026.
A new free tool, CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, lets players look up available licensing information for a gambling website.
Offshore sites, sweepstakes casinos and unlicensed prediction markets don’t have to meet the player protections Michigan requires of licensed operators.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is reminding players to check if a gambling site is licensed before depositing money. The message comes during Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, November 9–13. Organized by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), it’s the first international campaign focused on the risks of unlicensed gambling.

IAGR also launched CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a free tool that helps players check a site’s licensing information. Michigan already regulates real-money online poker under the Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2019. For poker players, the difference matters. Licensed sites must follow Michigan’s rules to protect players and their money. Offshore and sweepstakes sites don’t have those same requirements.

What Michigan Regulators Announced This Week

The MGCB is running its “Play it safe. Bet legal” campaign throughout November, using radio ads, videos and social media posts to warn players about illegal gambling sites, according to the MGCB’s announcement.

MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams warned players that unlicensed gambling sites aren’t as safe as they may seem:

“Illegal gambling operators want you to believe they’re just another option. They’re not.”

The MGCB is also taking action against illegal operators. According to Yogonet, the board has sent hundreds of cease-and-desist letters ordering unlicensed gambling sites to stop operating.

How CheckBeforeYouPlay.org Checks Gambling Licenses

The tool lets you enter a gambling site’s website address to check its licensing information. It doesn’t cover every licensed operator, so Michigan players should also check the MGCB’s official list.

The tool was provided to IAGR by technology company Sharp Vision, according to Yogonet. It uses information from regulators and other trusted public sources. For example, say you see an unfamiliar poker site advertising a big welcome bonus. Before signing up, enter its website address at CheckBeforeYouPlay.org. Then check the results against Michigan’s official list of licensed operators.

This matters because a site licensed somewhere else isn’t automatically licensed in Michigan.

The MGCB also warns players to watch for these red flags:

The site only accepts cryptocurrency.
It promises guaranteed winnings.
It doesn’t check your age or identity.

Players can report suspected illegal gambling sites to the MGCB at 1-888-314-2682.

Licensed vs. Offshore and Sweepstakes Poker Sites in Michigan

In Michigan, licensed online casinos and sportsbooks must be approved by the MGCB and follow rules designed to protect players. These include:

Making sure players are at least 21 years old.
Keeping player money and personal information safe.
Offering tools like deposit and time limits.
Following the state’s Responsible Gaming Database rules.
Allowing players to file complaints with the MGCB.

Michigan also regulates online poker under the Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2019. Our Michigan online poker guide covers licensed options like BetMGM, WSOP and PokerStars, which now operates through FanDuel’s partnership with MotorCity Casino. DraftKings also launched multi-state poker in July 2026.

Michigan is part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). This allows approved poker sites to share players across participating states, including New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. However, offshore gambling sites and unlicensed sweepstakes casinos don’t have to follow Michigan’s licensing rules, according to the MGCB’s November 10 announcement.

MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams warned players about the risks:

“When you play with an unlicensed operator, there’s no one verifying your age or identity, no one making sure your winnings get paid, and no regulator you can turn to when something goes wrong.”

For poker players, this can become a serious problem. If an unlicensed site freezes your account after a big win, you won’t have the same protections or complaint process offered by the MGCB.

Our guide to the risks and benefits of offshore poker sites explains these differences. Sweepstakes poker rooms are also facing more restrictions, as covered in our report on state bans closing sweepstakes poker rooms in 2026.

Michigan’s Prediction Market Crackdown Targets Sports Contracts

The MGCB is also targeting prediction markets, which let people trade contracts based on sports results. While these platforms don’t offer poker, Michigan regulators argue they must follow state gambling laws. The MGCB is working with the state’s Attorney General on several cases:

September 2026: A court temporarily blocked Kalshi from offering sports event contracts to Michigan residents.
October 2026: Coinbase agreed to stop offering sports event contracts in Michigan, including those traded through Kalshi. Robinhood had already made a similar agreement.
October 28, 2026: Polymarket US agreed to stop offering new sports event contracts in Michigan and close existing ones by November 25, subject to federal court approval.

None of these companies has an MGCB license to offer sports betting in Michigan. State regulators argue that sports event contracts violate Michigan gambling laws when offered without a state license. However, the legal dispute over whether state or federal rules apply is still ongoing.

MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams summed up the state’s approach:

“Illegal gambling doesn’t stop at state or national borders, and neither can our response.”

How Michigan Poker Players Can Check a Site

Michigan poker players have access to licensed sites that can share players across state lines. The new license checker makes it easier to check whether a site is regulated before depositing money. Before signing up for an unfamiliar poker site, check it on CheckBeforeYouPlay.org and compare the results with the MGCB’s official list of licensed operators.

Online poker players in Michigan must be at least 21 years old. Anyone struggling with gambling can call the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER, available 24/7, or sign up for the state’s Responsible Gaming Database.

Taking a minute to check a site’s license could save you trouble later.

Sandra is a content writer and editor specializing in online poker and iGaming. She covers poker sites, game formats, industry news, and US online poker laws for Legal US Poker Sites.