The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has taken illegal gambling operations seriously and recently issued cease-and-desist letters to Ace23 and Ace Per Head, located in Costa Rica. Ace23 operates the website, Ace23.ag, which functions as a sportsbook and casino service provider catering to agents/bookies. Ace Per Head manages Ace23.

Ace23 purports it is part of the Ace Gaming Network, which claims on their website to be licensed in Canada and Costa Rica but is not licensed to operate in Michigan.

An extensive investigation has revealed the website enables account holders, who are considered “agents” to establish bookmaking operations using different “skins” (designs) and webpages, whereby the agents/bookies can accept wagers and make payouts to players on those webpages. Ace23 handles all the organizing, setup, and administration for the agent’s/bookie’s operation and charges them $10 per active player per week for doing so. Additionally, the website offers casino-style games but does not take any wagers or make any payouts, as those are handled between the agent/bookie and participating gamblers.

“The Michigan Gaming Control Board is committed to safeguarding the integrity of legal gaming in the state and protecting consumers from illicit offshore operations like Ace23. Our regulatory efforts are focused on promoting responsible gaming practices and upholding the laws that govern the industry. To that end, we ask all Michigan residents to stay informed and stay safe by reporting any suspected illegal gambling activities to the agency because we take every tip very seriously,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said.

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Ace23 facilitates transactions from agents for the “per head” charges through cryptocurrencies or approved retailer gift cards. To pay with a gift card, agents are required to scratch off the hidden code on the back of the card and input it into an area on their account page to release the dollar amount to Ace23.

The MGCB has determined that Ace23 is operating in direct violation of Michigan’s Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Michigan Penal Code, and the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act. Such activities pose a significant risk to consumers and the integrity of legal gaming operations within the state of Michigan.

These cease-and-desist letters serve as a formal notice to Ace23 and Ace Per Head to immediately halt all gambling activities within Michigan and refrain from further violations of the law within 14 days from receipt of the letter.

Aposta Ganha, the fastest-growing Brazilian sports betting and casino site, has successfully completed its GLI 19, GLI 33 and Brazilian certifications from BMM Testlabs for its Player Account Management (PAM) system and Sportsbook

These three important certifications mark a significant milestone in Grupo Aposta Ganha’s complete commitment to regulatory compliance and operational excellence in Brazil’s iGaming market. Meeting BMM Testlabs’ rigorous testing processes highlights the company’s dedication to best practices and upholding the highest levels of security, transparency, and user experience.

BMM Testlabs implemented a comprehensive 360-degree evaluation of vital operational elements, including user account management, platform interaction, and security. Grupo Aposta Ganha’s systems officially meet the standards for operating within a regulated market, reflecting both international best practices and the specific requirements of Brazil’s regulatory environment.

Grupo Aposta Ganha CTO, Rony Silva, added: “Securing these three certifications showcases our relentless commitment to meeting all the requirements stipulated by the regulator. As a company, we’re passionate about offering our customers the highest levels of compliance and safety. Our certification is part of our greater mission of embracing the evolution of good practices that have been built collaboratively to meet the Brazilian market’s unique position.”

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The Koi Nation of Northern California is in full compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s “Restored Lands Provision” in the tribe’s pursuit of the Shiloh Resort & Casino project in unincorporated Sonoma County, California.

“The promise of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s “restored lands provision” was to remedy the tragic history of forced removal and relocation by allowing restored lands to be utilized for tribal gaming. Like it or not, a rigid set of rules exists to qualify for this provision of federal law — and we’ve dutifully met them all,” said Darin Beltran, Chair of the Koi Nation of Northern California’s Tribal Council.

The Koi Nation’s ancestors relocated to Sonoma County after rejecting the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ offer of a Rancheria in neighboring Lake County in 1916 that the agency itself deemed uninhabitable. This tragic series of events rendered the Koi Nation landless and led to the improper termination of its federal recognition status, ending its ability to pursue gaming through the same rights afforded to all other federally recognized tribes.

The Koi Nation’s federal recognition status was finally restored in 2000, and a 2019 ruling in a case overseen by the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, Beryl A. Howell, recognized the tribe’s ability to pursue gaming through the “restored lands provision”.

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“This unique provision of federal law allows tribes restored to federal recognition status, such as the Koi Nation, to pursue gaming according to strict statutory and regulatory requirements,” Beltran said.

These requirements include the demonstration of a “significant historical connection” to the site of proposed gaming projects.

In its filing for a restored lands opinion, the Koi Nation methodically details the tribe’s deep ties to Sonoma County. These include their ancestors’ well-regarded roles as Sonoma County Native American political leaders who advocated for 1928 federal native claims legislation, Native American social rights and community organization with other Pomo tribes, and voters for the tribe’s organization under President FranklinRoosevelt’s Indian Reorganization Act of 1935.

“Since that time, the center of Koi Pomo life – and death – has been in Sonoma County. Our application is in full compliance with Indian Gaming Regulation Act’s restored lands provision,” said Dino Beltran, Vice Chair of the Koi Nation of Northern California’s Tribal Council.

The Koi Nation’s strong historical connection to Sonoma County was recently supported by an opinion piece published by the project site’s local paper of record, the Press Democrat.

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Additionally, the largest native American news publication in the US, Indian Country Today, published an opinion piece supporting the Koi Nation’s utilization of the restored land provision in the face of recent opposition.

The publication of these two pieces demonstrates that the opinions contained therein are significant not just in the region surrounding the proposed Shiloh Resort & Casino project, but for all of Indian country throughout the US.