ADVISORY: ILLEGAL GAMBLING OPERATION USING FORGED COMMISSION CREDENTIALS

The California Gambling Control Commission (Commission) has received information that an illegal gambling operation called California Scratch Card is using the Commission’s name and logo to claim that winners must pay them an “Administrative Processing Fee” imposed by the Commission before they can collect their winnings. Examples are attached to this notice. It appears this illegal gambling operation is primarily operating on Facebook, and may be operating on other social media platforms.

Based on the information the Commission has received, this illegal gambling operation appears to be based in the Philippines and is targeting citizens of the Philippines.

The Commission does not issue, nor has it ever issued, licenses to California Scratch Card or any other similar illegal gambling operations. The Commission does not require “Administrative Processing Fees” or other such fees that these illegal gambling operations claim. The Commission is currently pursuing all available options to address this matter.

Illegal gambling operations such as these are often fronts for scams and thefts, as they can keep a player’s deposited funds, refuse to pay out winnings, or demand payment from the winner before releasing the winnings, and then not release the winnings at all.