Ahead of the fall of the year, when legal sports betting is expected to arrive, Missouri warned that a nationwide scam has made its way into the state.
The state's gambling regulator, the Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC), said in a statement last week that fraudulent operators are falsely claiming that casinos are "going online" for customers across the state.
Missourians are at risk of being scammed by illegal online gambling platforms
In its report, titled "Consumer Protection Alert Rise in Fraudulent Online Casinos Targeting Missourians," the MGC warned that unlicensed gambling operators are using photos and other materials belonging to legitimate casinos in Missouri to promote recently launched illegal online gambling platforms.
However, online casino gambling in the state is currently illegal. Per the Commission, any claims about legal online gambling in Missouri "should be treated as highly suspicious."
The MGC did not reveal specific brands or names of casinos whose good name may have been used by fraudulent operators to mislead customers across the state.
"These scams not only put players at a financial risk, but they also undermine the integrity of Missouri’s regulated gaming industry," the gambling watchdog wrote.
The Commission explained that Missourians who come across an illegal, black-market operator that claims to be a licensed entity can report such incidents with the Federal Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Such consumers are also encouraged to take screenshots documenting the exact website, app, advertisement, or other relevant materials.
Not unexpectedly, the MGC encouraged consumers to avoid such unlicensed gambling platforms, warning that their identity or bank information may be compromised.
"The Missouri Gaming Commission is committed to protecting Missourians by ensuring legal gaming operations maintain public trust and confidence," the Commission's statement reads.
Consumers are encouraged to avoid unregulated gambling operators
The primary reason why consumers must not use unregulated websites is that they would not be able to resolve complaints if such emerge.
The MGC reminded consumers that even if a gambling website is presenting itself as licensed, they may in fact be unregulated. This means that in the case of disputes or complaints, the Commission would not be able to help victims, which may lead to a loss of funds.
Similar to other states, Missouri has a list of all regulated fantasy sports, charitable bingo and casino operators.
The list, as well as options for filing complaints and other relevant information, can be found on the Commission's website.
