Missouri AG calls on DOJ to crack down on online offshore gambling

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, along with 49 other state and territorial attorneys general, urged the U.S. Department of Justice to take action against illegal offshore online gambling.

According to a press release from Andrew Bailey’s office, these unregulated gambling platforms, mainly operated by foreign companies, bypass U.S. law, taxes, and are a risk to state economies and the consumers themselves.

"Illegal offshore gambling platforms are siphoning billions of dollars away from American communities, exploiting vulnerable consumers, and fueling transnational crime," said Attorney General Bailey.

They’re calling on the DOJ to attempt to use its authority to seize assets and proceeds associated with these operations by blocking out domain names or dismantling other financial networks associated with the operations.  

The release also states that the operations are linked to more serious criminal activities, including money laundering and organized crime.

The DOJ has previously used similar strategies to combat illegal activities, such as the 2011 "Black Friday" crackdown on counterfeit websites.