Louisiana - Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and a bipartisan coalition of 50 state attorneys general have formally called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to take decisive action against a surge in illegal offshore gambling operations impacting millions of Americans. In a letter addressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the coalition highlighted significant threats posed by foreign-based online gaming platforms, urging federal intervention to protect consumers, uphold state laws, and restore lost tax revenue.
Illegal online gaming entities, often located outside the United States, operate without required licenses, skirt state boundaries, evade taxes, and offer minimal consumer protections. These platforms frequently fail to verify user ages—a practice that opens doors to underage gambling—and neglect oversight that is standard in state-regulated markets. According to the coalition’s findings, the illegal online gambling market is estimated to exceed $400 billion in annual volume, resulting in more than $4 billion in lost tax revenue for U.S. states.
Attorney General Murrill stated, “If you’re not licensed in Louisiana, then it’s illegal gaming.” She joined her counterparts in pressing the DOJ to coordinate legal action and enforcement, emphasizing that DOJ efforts against illicit gambling have been extremely limited since 2013. Louisiana, along with other states, faces economic and social harms, including increased risk of fraud, problem gambling, and exposure to criminal activities such as money laundering and human trafficking.
The coalition’s letter outlines several concrete steps for the DOJ:
- Pursue injunctive relief under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, allowing authorities to block unlawful websites and payment services linked to illegal gaming operators.
- Seize assets involved in offshore gambling, including servers, domains, and illicit proceeds.
- Partner with state governments, financial institutions, and payment processors to halt unauthorized transactions and dismantle the infrastructure that supports illegal gaming.
Young people and vulnerable adults are at particular risk, as these offshore platforms frequently enable highly addictive gambling experiences without oversight. Unlike state-regulated markets—where age verification, responsible gaming tools, and financial accountability are required—illegal sites operate in the shadows, often encouraging unsafe and criminal behavior.
The attorneys general of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Utah co-led the effort, with participation from every U.S. state and several territories, including Louisiana. The letter demonstrates broad, bipartisan support for federal intervention, reflecting concerns far beyond state borders.
By underscoring the magnitude of illegal offshore gaming and advocating multi-agency cooperation, Louisiana and its coalition partners aim to curb the widespread harm associated with these operations, strengthening protections for consumers and upholding the integrity of state-regulated gambling markets.