The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has issued a public service announcement offering tips for safe and responsible online gaming.
Released during Identity Theft Awareness Week, the PSA reminds Arizonans to safeguard personal and financial information and addresses the increase in scammers targeting unsuspecting individuals to steal personal information and financial assets.
The regulator suggests that illegal online casinos and sweepstakes platforms that present themselves as legitimate gaming platforms pose an inherent danger to users.
Mike Epifani of Yay Sweepstakes told CasinoBeats, “With fraudulent activity on the rise, it’s never been more important for those wishing to gamble to be vigilant with information and choose the operator best for them.”
The ADG outlines that it can only remediate disputes with Arizona-licensed operators, and conflicts with sites outside its remit leave victims of fraudulent activity with little to no chance of recovering lost funds.
The ADG has invested significant resources in educating residents of the Grand Canyon State about the potential harms of dealing with unregulated entities. It has also attempted to provide information about sweepstakes, as the term is not defined under Arizona legislation.
To “avoid engaging in illegal gambling,” an operator must not place any requirements or limitations on free participation. This can simply be in the form of mailings, extra forms, restrictions on entries, or actual consideration.
Common Scams Targeting Online Gamblers
It goes on to add that sites should not falsely advertise that users have won a prize unless that individual has won such a prize.
The ADG also explains that operators should “clearly and conspicuously provide and display the option clearly and conspicuously provide and display the option to participate for free in the same manner, to the same extent, and with the same odds of winning, as someone who chooses to willingly contribute consideration.”
ADG’s PSA advises that falling victim to a scam can leave participants vulnerable to:
- Fake gaming platforms causing financial loss or claiming fraudulent prize fees;
- Identity theft, as a result of sharing personal and/or financial information;
- False claims of unpaid taxes or fees tied to winnings.
Essential Steps to Prevent Online Gaming Scams
Prevention advice provided by the regulator is split into four main points:
- Approach advertisements with caution: fraudulent operations may promise guaranteed wins or no-risk gaming;
- Check resources on the regulator’s website for casinos and operators that are verified in the state;
- Ensure the operator-of-choice has specific gambling-harm prevention measures such as self-exclusion and responsible gaming messaging;
- Avoid sharing both personal and financial information with unverified sources.
In August 2024, the ADG published a similar announcement warning Arizonans about the rise of gaming scam telephone calls. The regulator found evidence that scammers were pretending to be affiliated with the regulator to steal personal and financial information. It also found evidence of callers pretending to be associated with the Indian Gaming Association, the National Indian Gaming Commission, and the Publisher’s Clearing House.
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