Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has joined a coalition of 50 attorneys general in urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to take stronger action against illegal offshore gambling. In a joint letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the bipartisan group called attention to the growing impact of unregulated online gaming on state economies, vulnerable consumers, and law enforcement efforts.
“Illegal online gaming is a danger to every jurisdiction and requires bipartisan collaboration to stop,” said AG Ford. “Regulations on gaming exist to ensure the industry’s economic activity is safe and non-predatory… I urge the DOJ to act to rein in this problem.”
A $400 Billion Industry Undermining Legal Markets
The coalition estimates that illegal online gambling now exceeds $400 billion annually, costing states more than $4 billion in lost tax revenue. Much of this activity is facilitated by foreign-based operators that lack licenses, avoid taxes, fail to verify user age, and often provide little to no consumer protections.
In addition to financial losses, these operations are said to promote problem gambling, bypass state boundaries, and have ties to criminal enterprises such as money laundering and human trafficking.
Nevada officials warn that these unregulated platforms are undercutting the state’s world-renowned gaming industry. David Schmidt, the state’s chief economist, noted that while the Las Vegas Strip once peaked in 2006, key indicators like hotel occupancy and airport traffic have fallen off since June of last year – further evidence of the growing threat illegal gambling poses to the state’s economy.
Coordinated Legal Action Requested
The letter calls on the DOJ to employ a series of aggressive enforcement tactics to curb these operations. Specifically, the coalition urged the department to:
- Pursue injunctive relief under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to block access to illegal sites and payment systems.
- Seize assets—including servers, websites, and domain names—used in illicit gambling.
- Coordinate with states, financial institutions, and payment processors to intercept illegal transactions and dismantle the financial infrastructure that enables these activities.
The push comes amid growing concerns that the DOJ has been largely inactive in enforcing laws against offshore gambling since 2013.
Widespread Support from State Leaders and Industry
AG Ford’s initiative is supported by attorneys general across all U.S. states and territories, including co-leads from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Utah. The widespread backing underscores a rare bipartisan consensus on the issue.
The effort also aligns with the stance of the American Gaming Association (AGA). AGA President and CEO Bill Miller stated, “All stakeholders – policymakers, law enforcement, regulators, legal businesses – must work together to root out the illegal and unregulated gambling market.”
In Nevada, recent legislation – Senate Bill 256 – has already strengthened penalties for illegal online gambling. However, state leaders agree that federal involvement is critical to making a meaningful impact on offshore operators and protecting the integrity of U.S. gaming markets.
Source:
“Attorney General Ford Joins Bipartisan Effort Urging U.S. Department of Justice to Help Address Illegal Offshore Gaming”, ag.nv.gov, Aug 6, 2025
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