Casinos Where iGaming Isn’t Allowed Caution Public About Fraudulent Ads

• Gambling News
• 15 April 2025

Land-based casinos in states where online slots and table games are illegal keep fighting against unregulated offshore gambling sites posing as legitimate operations. The scenario has become so severe that overseas entities are imitating physical casino brands and showcasing their appearances in social media content. 

The newest focus is Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel located on Long Island in New York. The casino, which provides video lottery terminals (VLTs) resembling slots and electronic table games, alerted the public that social media advertisements promoting online gambling via Jake’s are deceptive.

"Please be advised Jake’s 58 does not offer any form of online gambling and we are not affiliated with any websites, apps, or platforms claiming to offer such services. These claims are part of a scam designed to mislead and potentially harm users,” a notice to the Jake’s 58 website read.

The casino, managed by Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., noted that the utilization of its logos, images, and branding is without permission. 

Expanding Issue 

Offshore gambling enterprises, frequently based in countries and regions supportive of iGaming such as Malta, the Isle of Man, Anjouan, Gibraltar, Curacao, the Philippines, and Ukraine, have grown bolder in their promotional efforts. Many casinos throughout the United States have indicated problems with their branding and other images being appropriated in advertisements for unlawful online gambling operations. 

These offshore gaming sites, while usually licensed by a host nation, offer limited protections for players. Clients who wager on an unauthorized gaming site have limited options if a winning bet isn't honored or if an account withdrawal fails to happen. Unregulated casinos lack oversight for fair practices and typically do not promote responsible gambling. 

“If anybody in New York State is asking you to bet on poker, blackjack, or any slot-type machines on your computer, it’s illegal and you can’t do it,” said Suffolk OTB President and CEO Phil Boyle. “It’s a scam. They’re going to take your money.”

The Golden Nugget Casino in Danville, Ill. faced a comparable issue when social media posts for a newly introduced Golden Nugget Online Casino in the state started appearing. The advertisement provided Facebook users with 150 complimentary spins for registering with the offshore casino. 

In Virginia, social media platforms displayed a deceptive advertisement for a Caesars-branded online casino, which is illegal in the state. Caesars Entertainment launched its Caesars Virginia venue in Danville last December. 

In February, Plainridge Park Casino in Massachusetts cautioned the public about a deceptive online gaming advertisement featuring its name. MGM’s Beau Rivage released a comparable alert regarding a fake post asserting that its casino is available online in Mississippi. 

The practice has extended to tribal casinos, featuring deceptive online casino advertisements for Ho-Chunk Gaming in Wisconsin and Muckleshoot Casino Resort in Washington. 

iGaming Permitted in Just Seven States 

Although online sports wagering is lawful and regulated in 33 states plus Washington, DC, iGaming is limited to just seven states. Gambling on a slot or table game online is illegal unless you are of the legal gaming age in the state and are physically present in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, or West Virginia. 

Disputed websites presenting themselves as “sweepstakes” platforms continue to find loopholes to enable consumers to wager on slots and table games in regions where such gambling is prohibited. Numerous state gaming regulators and attorneys general have recently issued multiple cease-and-desist orders to these platforms.