The companies in question include Intercasino.com, sportingbet.com and sportingbook.com. State investigators were able to access these web sites, sign up to the service and place bets on athletic events. They said that they did not find sufficient safeguards to prevent minors with credit cards from placing bets.
The Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement said:
“The citizens of New Jersey need to be aware that these sports betting operations are not regulated and they are illegal. Regardless of their occasional claims of ‘licensing’ and ‘legality’, they answer to no one and are therefore not held to the same scrutiny as our Atlantic City casinos.”
The director’s colleague in the Division of Consumer Affairs added, “We will not allow these sites that permit minors to gamble with impunity to flourish.”
In addition to filing the lawsuits, the authorities are hoping to disable such sites by focussing on the sites’ “toll-free” phone service providers and credit card companies.
The Director of Gaming Enforcement said:
“under federal law, the telephone companies that provide services to these illegal internet sites will be required to comply with our demand [to cease and desist doing so].”