FBI Warns Consumers About Inherent Risks of Illegal Online Gambling
Posted on: December 19, 2025, 01:35h.
Last updated on: December 19, 2025, 01:45h.
- The FBI is warning the public to avoid unregulated online casinos and sportsbooks
- Such illegal online gaming businesses can be linked to terrorists and organized crime
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning the American public to only gamble with licensed, regulated online operators.
In an alert dated Wednesday, December 17, the FBI says “great odds come with high risk.” The domestic intelligence and security service of the US government says that while sports betting today is more widespread, with sportsbooks regulated in 39 states and Washington, DC, illegal online sports betting and casino websites and apps continue to proliferate the US-facing internet.
The FBI details that accessing an unregulated gambling website comes with no consumer guarantees, such as fair play, and that account withdrawal requests will be executed. The federal agency says customers’ online money is also at a heightened risk of being stolen.
The FBI adds that some illicit online gambling businesses are run by organized crime and criminal networks associated with terrorist organizations.
“Individuals engaged in illegal gambling risk funding organized crime activity and becoming vulnerable to violence, extortion, and fraud. As a federal law enforcement agency, the FBI enforces criminal statutes, including those involving organized crime and illegal gambling operations,” the alert read.
The FBI emphasized that it’s each person’s responsibility who wishes to gamble online to ensure that they’re engaging only with legal, regulated operators.
FBI Monitor
With gambling more mainstream than ever before in the US, the FBI has established a special division to combat the threat of influence from organized crime and other criminals seeking to benefit from illegal gambling and sports betting.
The FBI Crime and Corruption in Sport and Gaming (CCSG) Program seeks to infiltrate organized crime groups that run illegal gambling operations, including online sportsbooks, to generate revenue for their illicit activities, such as human, drug, and weapons trafficking. The CCSG was created to identify, combat, and disrupt criminal activities that degrade the integrity of sports and erode public confidence in sports.
The CCSG works with sports leagues, sports governing bodies, international law enforcement agencies, and independent watchdogs to identify illegal activity and bring charges against bad actors.
Beyond the possible funding of organized crime activity, bettors who wager with illegal bookmakers put themselves at risk of extortion and violence if they are unable to repay debts. Furthermore, unregulated sportsbooks and offshore gambling websites put US consumers at risk of losing their money and earnings,” the FBI continued.
The agency encourages bettors to stay informed of federal and state laws regarding online gambling, should they wish to participate. The FBI recommends reviewing state gaming regulatory websites, which often include a list of legal online sportsbooks and/or iGaming platforms.
Public’s Help
The FBI’s alert was also to inform the public that anyone with information regarding an illegal gambling business or online gambling enterprise can tip off the federal law enforcement department through an Internet Crime Complaint at www.ic3.gov.
Illegal online gambling remains rampant. In 2024, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp parent Meta reported generating more than $3 billion from China for fraudulent advertisements related to scams, illegal gambling, and pornography.
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