Attorney General Gentner Drummond is taking a stand against the rising tide of illegal offshore gaming that's taking Americans for a ride. In a move backed by 50 attorneys general, Drummond has reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice, laying out the case for why federal intervention is urgently needed. As reported by Oklahoma's official newsroom, the coalition is pushing for the DOJ to actively combat operations that skirt state rules and federal laws, which could be potentially costing the states more than $4 billion in lost tax revenue every year.
The letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the widespread impact of these illegal gambling platforms, highlighting that they pose "a threat to Oklahomans and to hardworking people across the country," as mentioned on the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office. The plea is aimed to rapidly stem the flow of unlawful betting by foreign-based operators, who are known to operate sans proper licensure and seem to rarely, if ever, prioritize consumer protection or responsible gambling measures. They also tend to avoid taxes, which only adds to the urgency to curb their operations.
Illegal online gaming comes with a hefty price tag, estimated to exceed $400 billion annually, according to the coalition's letter. This eye-watering sum of digital bets is not just slipping through the cracks; it's bypassing the very infrastructure set up to regulate and tax such activities. This evasion results in a significant financial blow to states that are missing out on billions in tax dollars. Drummond, speaking for the coalition, asserts these operations are linked to money laundering and even more sinister activities like human trafficking.
In their appeal, the attorneys general firmly urged the DOJ to utilize its legal arsenal to combat these unlawful operations. Among the requested measures, they want to see the DOJ take swift action to block access to illegal betting sites, seize assets including servers and domain names, and team up with financial institutions to prevent illegal transactions. With stakes this high, it's clear the coalition is eager to swiftly, and decisively, shut down these shadowy offshore betting rings.
Joining Oklahoma in the fight against illegal offshore gaming are states and territories from every corner of the nation, including but not limited to California, New York, and Florida, underscoring the national concern over this issue.
