LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has joined a bipartisan coalition of 50 attorneys general calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to take action against illegal offshore gambling operations that are spreading rapidly across the country.
In a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the coalition urged the DOJ to step in and help states combat the growing threat posed by unlicensed online gaming platforms.
The attorneys general warned that these operations undermine the rule of law, harm consumers, and siphon billions from state economies.
Griffin has stayed engaged in addressing the illegal act in the state.
Despite efforts made towards addressing illegal online gambling, offering legit online gambling remains a goal for casinos such as the Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff.
Instead of just online sports betting, the casino pushed for House Bill 1861 to open online gambling for casino games.
“These illegal offshore gaming sites ignore our laws, target vulnerable people, and allow underage gambling without any safeguards,” Griffin said in a statement.
“Some even impersonate Arkansas casinos online and on social media, using familiar visuals to trick users into clicking fake links that redirect them to illegal platforms.”
An online casino gambling bill was up for consideration during the 2025 legislative session.
However, House Bill 1861 was pulled before it began.
The letter outlines how foreign-based companies behind these sites routinely operate without licenses, fail to verify users’ ages, evade taxes, and offer little to no consumer protection. The coalition said the consequences are serious: users are exposed to fraud, gambling addiction, and even criminal activity like money laundering and human trafficking.
Illegal online gaming is estimated to generate more than $400 billion annually, costing states over $4 billion in lost tax revenue.
The attorneys general are asking the DOJ to ramp up enforcement efforts, especially since federal action has been minimal since 2013. They’re urging the department to:
Seek court orders under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to block access to illegal sites and payment systems.
Seize assets such as servers, domains, and profits tied to unlawful gaming.
Work with states, banks, and payment processors to shut down financial networks supporting illegal gambling.
The letter was co-led by the attorneys general of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Utah. Griffin joined colleagues from nearly every U.S. state and territory in signing the appeal.
