Arizona Moves Against ClubWPT, Four Others With C&D Orders Over Illegal Betting

The Arizona Department of Gaming has taken direct action against five gambling operators, issuing cease‑and‑desist orders that demand an immediate halt to their activities in the state.

The ADG said the violations include promoting illegal gambling, exercising unlawful control of an enterprise, and money laundering. Operators receiving notices include ClubWPT, a social online poker platform, BetOpenly, Bookmaker, Kutt Inc., and Raffle Creator.

“Arizona is taking decisive action against illegal gambling operators that put Arizonans at risk,” ADG Director Jackie Johnson stated. “Through these cease‑and‑desist orders we are putting operators on notice: their conduct runs contrary to Arizona law and they must stop promoting illegal gambling.”

All five companies must now shut down their gambling operations, whether online or through mobile platforms. Failure to comply might lead to civil or criminal charges against the businesses, their principals, and employees, the operator warned. It has also not ruled out restitution for players who lost money, along with forfeiture of all funds collected through illegal gaming.

ClubWPT accused of allowing under-21s to gamble

The Arizona Department of Gaming’s cease‑and‑desist order against ClubWPT has sharpened concerns about how the social poker site operates across North America.

Regulators say the platform allowed players under 21 to take part in pay‑to‑play poker tournaments for prizes, a violation of state law. The ADG also pointed to the company’s use of “no purchase necessary” language tied to sweepstakes, calling it deceptive.

ClubWPT insists it runs under sweepstakes laws, but the regulator rejected that claim. In its order, ADG Chief Law Enforcement Officer Douglas Jensen stated: “The poker is not legal and the attempt to disguise your conduct as a ‘sweepstakes’ fails. ‘Sweepstakes’ is not a defined term under Arizona law, there are no ‘sweepstakes’ laws or rules, and there is no exception from the illegal gambling statutes for conduct labeled ‘sweepstakes.’”

The platform continues to operate in more than 20 U.S. markets, adjusting its product state by state as legal challenges continue to pop up.

In California, ClubWPT shifted to tournaments and cash games only, while in New York it returned after briefly leaving when Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill banning sweepstakes casinos.

Arizona’s war on sweepstakes and offshore gambling

Arizona’s regulators have been steadily expanding their crackdown on unlicensed gambling since 2025.

Since 2025, the Department of Gaming has issued more than ten cease‑and‑desist orders to companies accused of running without a license or offering sweepstakes games that fall outside state law.

Among those targeted last year were Stake.us, High 5 Casino, ARB Gaming LLC, MyBookie, and Generiz.

The state has also intensified its fight against prediction markets in recent weeks. Its move to apply gambling laws to prediction market operators was blocked in May, but the state regulator is still in a court battle with Kalshi. Governor Hobbs has also signed an executive order banning state employees from using nonpublic information gained through their work to profit on prediction markets.

Arizona Moves Against ClubWPT, Four Others With C&D Orders Over Illegal Betting

ClubWPT accused of allowing under-21s to gamble

Arizona’s war on sweepstakes and offshore gambling

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