Twelve bipartisan U.S. Senators are demanding Attorney General Pam Bondi unleash the full force of federal law enforcement against illegal offshore gambling operations that are deliberately targeting and addicting America’s children.
Story Highlights
- Bipartisan coalition of 12 Senators demands DOJ crackdown on illegal offshore gambling targeting youth
- Offshore operators exploit weak age verification to expose minors to addictive gambling practices
- Illegal gambling industry generates over $400 billion annually while costing states $4 billion in lost tax revenue
- 50 state attorneys general previously urged similar federal enforcement action in August 2025
Bipartisan Senate Coalition Demands Action
On October 27, 2025, twelve U.S. Senators including Katie Britt, Richard Blumenthal, Marsha Blackburn, Cory Booker, John Cornyn, and Charles Grassley sent a forceful letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Senators explicitly called for aggressive DOJ enforcement against illegal offshore gambling operations that deliberately target American youth through unregulated betting platforms. This bipartisan effort underscores the severity of the threat these criminal enterprises pose to our nation’s children and families.
Criminal Operations Exploit America’s Youth
These offshore gambling operations represent a direct assault on American families and traditional values. Foreign-based criminal enterprises deliberately circumvent U.S. laws by offering unlicensed betting to Americans, including minors, through platforms with weak or nonexistent age verification systems. The operators aggressively market addictive gambling products to vulnerable populations, particularly targeting young Americans who lack the maturity to understand the financial and personal devastation these activities can cause.
Massive Economic and Social Damage
The illegal offshore gambling industry generates an estimated $400 billion in annual gaming volume while robbing American states of approximately $4 billion in lost tax revenue each year. This criminal enterprise not only undermines legitimate, regulated gambling businesses that follow the law and protect consumers, but also exposes American families to addiction, financial ruin, and criminal elements. The lack of regulatory oversight means no consumer protections, no responsible gambling measures, and no recourse for victims.
Federal Enforcement Tools Available But Underutilized
The Senators’ letter emphasizes that existing federal statutes, including the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, provide the DOJ with powerful tools to combat these illegal operations. However, federal enforcement has been sporadic since the Obama administration’s 2011 “Black Friday” crackdown on major poker sites. The Trump administration’s DOJ now has the opportunity to restore law and order by targeting these criminal enterprises through asset seizures, domain takedowns, and prosecution of operators who prey on American citizens.
This bipartisan call for action represents a rare moment of unity in protecting American families from foreign criminal enterprises. Attorney General Bondi has the legal authority and political backing to dismantle these operations and send a clear message that America will not tolerate foreign criminals targeting our children. The question remains whether the DOJ will act decisively to protect American families and uphold the rule of law.
Sources:
Multistate Illegal Offshore Gambling Letter
Coalition of Attorneys General Urges DOJ Crackdown on Offshore Gambling
