Arizona’s gaming regulator ordered five operators to stop activity it said amounted to illegal gambling, accusing them of conduct that could amount to promotion of gambling, illegal control of an enterprise and money laundering.
According to a July 10 press release from the Arizona Department of Gaming, the orders went to BetOpenly, Bookmaker, Club WPT Online Poker, Kutt Inc. and Raffle Creator. Jackie Johnson, the department director, said Arizona was taking decisive action against operators that put residents at risk and that the orders put them on notice their conduct ran contrary to state law.
The allegations varied by operator. BetOpenly was accused of offering peer-to-peer sports betting and casino games through a commission structure that benefited the operator, of enabling event wagering and daily fantasy sports without the required state licences, and of making the platform available to underage Arizonans. Bookmaker was said to facilitate wagering on horse racing, casino games and sports betting without an event wagering licence or an advanced deposit wagering provider licence.
Club WPT Online Poker was accused of letting Arizona users under 21 join pay-to-play online poker tournaments for prizes by using no-purchase-necessary language. The release also said online poker is illegal in Arizona and that online casino games are not legal there.
Kutt Inc. was warned that its operations showed third-party benefit, which legal social gambling in Arizona forbids. The company was told to stop letting users in Arizona deposit money and wager on sports, politics, pop culture and casino-style games. Raffle Creator was accused of failing to meet the requirements that allow Arizona nonprofits to conduct lawful raffles and of letting people under 21 buy tickets for prizes.
The orders told the entities to stop all gambling operations in Arizona immediately, whether through mobile applications, online or otherwise, and to desist from any future illegal gambling activity in the state. Future action could include criminal charges or a civil case against entities, principals and employees, along with restitution to people who lost money and forfeiture of funds acquired through illegal conduct.
The announcement told residents to check whether a gambling, event wagering or fantasy sports platform appears on the department’s 'Check Your Bet’ list of approved operators before participating. It also said regulated gaming is subject to Arizona statutes and rules, including taxes or financial contributions that benefit the state, and offers consumer protections such as fair play, data security, accountability and a safer overall experience. People can report suspected illegal gaming by email at [email protected] or by phone at 602-255-3886, and they may remain anonymous.
The latest action followed a similar April 17, 2025 enforcement sweep against ARB Gaming d/b/a Modo.us, Epic Hunts, Generiz, ProphetX, MyBookie and BetUS.com.pa. That move also targeted unlicensed online gaming services, including sweepstakes platforms, sportsbook wagering, horse-race betting and peer-to-peer exchanges, and said the operators had failed to meet Arizona’s regulatory requirements.
