Rogue Casino List Updated: 12 Operators Blacklisted After Spike in Withdrawal Complaints from US Players

06 November 2026

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) recently updated its cease-and-desist blacklist, adding 45 new operators, bringing the total to over 230. The move comes amid a growing number of complaints from US players about payment and withdrawal issues.

MGCB Blacklist Provides Critical Protection for Players

The MGCB's blacklist is considered the most reliable public resource of its kind for US players, as it is compiled from regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, rather than just opt-in complaints. This makes it invaluable in identifying rogue operations.

However, the MGCB explicitly states that its list is not exhaustive. The absence of a site from the blacklist does not necessarily mean it is safe or properly licensed. This is a vital caveat, as it underscores the ongoing risk to players who frequent unregulated casinos.

GamblingNerd Identifies 10 Active Rogue Casinos

While the MGCB list is essential, independent watchdogs also play a crucial role in identifying problematic casinos. GamblingNerd, a respected industry analyst, recently updated its own blacklist of online casinos, focusing on those that pose the most significant risks to players.

GamblingNerd's investigation identified 10 active casinos that it considers unsafe for players. The group's previous database had more than 200 blacklisted casinos, but most were no longer operating, prompting them to trim their current list.

Payment and withdrawal problems were the most common concerns, accompanied by customer service issues, unresolved disputes, and licensing worries. GamblingNerd's list highlights some of these casinos:

Prism Casino: Blacklisted as unlicensed, with a long-running pattern of delayed payments. Its claimed Anjouan license does not exist, and AskGamblers has handled over 160 complaints, most of which are payment-related.

Royal Ace: Also deemed unlicensed, with delayed and declined withdrawals. Its claimed Anjouan license is non-existent, and there are hundreds of complaints and recurring withdrawal disputes.

Palace of Chance: Marked as unlicensed, with a non-existent Anjouan license and an extensive history of payment and withdrawal complaints.

The GamblingNerd team emphasized that resolved complaints still raise red flags. Even when most disputes are eventually fixed, if dozens or hundreds of players report similar withdrawal issues, that pattern is notable, even when many complaints are resolved.

VegasFreedom Flags 12 Operators for Non-Payment

Another critical independent watchdog, VegasFreedom, also maintains a blacklist of US-facing casinos, updating it monthly with verified evidence, including regulatory records, public complaint databases, and licensing checks.

VegasFreedom warns that many blacklisted sites actively target US players because they face less regulatory scrutiny than casinos regulated in the UK or EU. This lack of oversight increases player risk, but some operators exploit this legal gray area to operate without proper regulation.

Some of the operators flagged by VegasFreedom for non-payment include:

21 Dukes Casino: Known for systematic withdrawal refusal, with long-running complaints dating back to 2018 showing completed KYC followed by indefinite "pending" withdrawal status and no functional dispute resolution.

50 Stars Casino: Flagged for deliberate payment stalling, with deposits processed instantly but withdrawals held for weeks and escalating document requests, resulting in multiple unresolved cases.

Blu Casino: Highlighted for non-payment with no recourse, operating without a valid dispute-resolution channel or licensing oversight that could compel payment.

Lucky 18 Casino: Known for repeated failure to pay, even after KYC completion, leaving players with verified accounts but voided or ignored withdrawals.

Sierra Star Casino: Ceased operations without processing pending withdrawals, with no licensing authority available to enforce payment.

Slots Jungle Casino: Has a pattern where withdrawal requests trigger account closures, with unspecified "terms violations" causing account suspensions at the cash-out point.

Each of these casinos has been identified as a consistent generator of player complaints about non-payment, with some operations featuring multi-year patterns of unresolved disputes.

MGCB Blacklist Update Reflects Growing Problem

The recent 45-name addition to the MGCB blacklist is the largest single update in several years, reflecting a growing problem with unregulated casinos preying on US players. The MGCB notes that its list is not exhaustive, but it is an indispensable resource for players seeking to avoid problematic operators.

GamblingNerd and VegasFreedom have identified 12 active casinos that players should avoid, building on the evidence provided by community forums and independent analysts. The 10 casinos GamblingNerd identified include Prism Casino, Royal Ace, and Palace of Chance, all of which have been flagged for licenses that do not exist and long-running patterns of non-payment.

VegasFreedom's list of 12 operators includes 21 Dukes Casino, 50 Stars Casino, and Blu Casino, all of which have been linked to systematic withdrawal denial and lack functional dispute resolution shows that the problems identified by these analysts are widespread and well-documented.

While the MGCB's update represents the most significant action by a US regulator to combat this problem in recent years, the ongoing efforts by independent analysts like GamblingNerd and VegasFreedom show that the issue is far from resolved.

As the demand for online gambling continues to grow, and as US regulators struggle to keep up with the pace of offshore operators, it's up to players to educate themselves and stay vigilant. The MGCB blacklist, combined with the research from independent analysts, provides a critical resource for players seeking to navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of online gambling.