US Senators Warn: Offshore Gaming Sites Endanger American Youth

A bipartisan effort in the US Senate is urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take serious action on illegal offshore gambling websites. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is taking the lead in this renewed campaign against unlicensed operators by sending a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, arguing that their operations are endangering American youth.

Eleven of Senator Britt’s colleagues have endorsed the letter, which was also signed by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn).

Bipartisan Group Urges DOJ for Stronger Federal Action to Protect America’s Youth

The fight against illegal offshore gambling operators is a growing issue that calls for a coordinated national effort. In a bipartisan letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi of the U.S. Department of Justice, twelve members of the Senate Judiciary Committee urge the department to take action to protect American youth from illegal offshore gaming operations. 

U.S. Senator Katie Boyd Britt, together with 11 colleagues, including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Cory Booker, signed the letter. In the letter, the senators highlighted the growing threats against young players, particularly the ease of creating accounts without age verification and gambling on credit.

While federal and state laws set the legal gambling age at 18 or 21, depending on the state, experts say that underage players are still finding ways to place bets on illegal gaming sites. Some minors gain access to these sites using their parents’ accounts, fake IDs, and peer-shared login credentials. 

According to Dr Timothy Fong, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, "Young people are significantly at higher risk of developing gambling disorder than adults, in part because their brains are not fully developed. Their ability to evaluate risk, their ability to handle loss, isn't as secure as an adult."

Fight Against Unlicensed and Unregulated Operators Continues

Earlier in 2025, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released a report detailing a 22% increase in illegal gambling activity in the United States since 2022. 

In the report, AGA estimated that illegal operators accounted for $53.9 billion in the industry’s total revenue of $169 billion during that period. 
Although the report did not track underage gambling, experts warn that young people remain particularly vulnerable to the risks of illegal offshore gambling.

Unlike legal US real-money gaming sites and some sweepstakes casinos, offshore sites lack safeguards, including age verification, betting limits, and responsible gambling tools. 

REFERENCES

• Senate's Bipartisan Letter
• American Gaming Association