PHOENIX – Arizona gaming regulators have ordered five companies to halt operations in the state, alleging they conducted illegal gambling and violated multiple felony statutes, including promotion of gambling, illegal control of an enterprise, and money laundering.
The Arizona Department of Gaming said cease‑and‑desist notices were issued to BetOpenly, Bookmaker, Club WPT Online Poker, Kutt Inc., and Raffle Creator. Officials said the actions reflect an ongoing effort to protect consumers and preserve the integrity of Arizona’s regulated gaming market.
“Arizona is taking decisive action against illegal gambling operators that put Arizonans at risk,” Department Director Jackie Johnson said in a statement. She credited the agency’s intelligence unit, led by Chief Law Enforcement Officer Doug Jensen, for identifying the alleged violations. “Through these cease‑and‑desist orders we are putting operators on notice: their conduct runs contrary to Arizona law and they must stop promoting illegal gambling.”
Arizona law prohibits gambling unless specifically authorized under state statute, and requires participants to be at least 21 years old.
BetOpenly Regulators said BetOpenly’s peer‑to‑peer model improperly allowed the operator to benefit from wagers through a commission structure, violating Arizona’s prohibition on third‑party profit in social gambling. The Department also alleges the platform offered sports betting, casino games, and daily fantasy contests without required licenses, made its services available to underage users, and engaged in felony conduct.
Bookmaker Investigators found Bookmaker offered wagering on horse racing, casino games, and sports betting without holding an event wagering license or an advanced deposit wagering license. Online casino gaming is illegal in Arizona. The Department alleges the operator committed multiple felony violations.
Club WPT Online Poker The Department alleges Club WPT allowed Arizona residents under 21 to enter pay‑to‑play online poker tournaments while using misleading “no purchase necessary” language. Online poker is illegal in the state. Regulators say the platform’s conduct meets the threshold for felony charges.
Kutt Inc. Officials said Kutt Inc. operated in a manner that violated Arizona’s rules for legal social gambling, which prohibit third‑party financial benefit. The platform allegedly allowed Arizona users to deposit funds and wager on sports, politics, pop culture, and casino‑style games. Regulators say the company’s conduct constitutes multiple felonies.
Raffle Creator The Department said Raffle Creator did not meet statutory requirements that allow Arizona nonprofits to conduct legal raffles and permitted individuals under 21 to purchase tickets for prize drawings. Regulators allege the operator engaged in felony conduct.
The cease‑and‑desist orders require each operator to immediately stop all gambling activity in Arizona, including online and mobile services. The Department said further enforcement could include criminal charges, civil actions, restitution for affected consumers, and forfeiture of funds tied to illegal activity.
State officials urged residents to verify that any gambling, event wagering, or fantasy sports platform appears on the Department’s list of approved operators. Regulated gaming, they said, ensures consumer protections such as fair play, secure data practices, and accountability.
