Press Release  Attorney General’s Office Issues Cease-and-Desist Letters to Two Online Gambling Operators for Illegal Offshore Casino and Sports Betting Operations

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO) today announced that it has issued cease and desist letters to two online gambling operators, BetOnline.ag and Sportsbetting.ag, for offering online gambling and betting products in Massachusetts without obtaining the required licensure from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

According to the letters, BetOnline.ag and Sportsbetting.ag have been operating online gambling platforms that include casino-style games such as slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker, as well as betting on most U.S. major league sports and horse races, without the necessary licenses issued by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission as required under Massachusetts law.

The Attorney General's Office alleges that BetOnline.ag and Sportsbetting.ag have failed to secure proper licensure as required by the state, yet have actively promoted their services to Massachusetts residents, using marketing tactics that depict U.S. major league teams, players, and collaborations with U.S. sports and entertainment-related content creators. 

  This matter is Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s latest effort to combat the public health harms associated with sports betting and gambling, especially among young people. In March of 2024, AG Campbell announced the formation of the Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition, a new private-public partnership to raise awareness about the laws and risks surrounding youth online sports gambling. 

If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling and needs support, there are resources available. Please call 1-800-327-5050, text “GAMB” to 800327, or visit https://gamblinghelplinema.org to speak with a trained specialist. The helpline is free, confidential and available in multiple languages. Additional resources for the prevention of problem gambling are available at Problem Gambling - Massachusetts Gaming Commission.  

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Louisa Castrucci of the AGO’s Gaming Enforcement Division. The work of the AGO’s Gaming Enforcement Division, including on this matter, is funded in part by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. 

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