The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has fined BetMGM $100,000 for not having the appropriate measures to prevent fraudulent accounts from using the platform. The PGCB announced that it had identified 2,024 fraud rings that were able to operate and wager millions of dollars. Four of the rings were active between 19 and 34 months
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has fined BetMGM $100,000 for not having the appropriate measures to prevent fraudulent accounts from using the platform.
The PGCB announced that it had identified 2,024 fraud rings that were able to operate and wager millions of dollars. Four of the rings were active between 19 and 34 months and gambled a combined amount of $2,007,180 by creating accounts using the personal data of other people.
The PGCB wrote in a statement:
“1. operated for approximately 25 months until January 2024 with 1,567 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and $229,580 of combined wagering; 2. operated for approximately 34 months until November 2024 with 34 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals and over $14,598 of combined wagering; 3. operated for approximately 29 months until November 2023 with 119 accounts created using the personal identifying information of other individuals and $895,092 of combined wagering; 4. operated for approximately 19 months until December 2023 with 304 accounts created using the personal identifying information of other individuals and $867,910 of combined wagering.”
The board cited insufficient Know Your Customer protocols at BetMGM and added that the bets were funded by stolen or fraudulently obtained payment methods. Additionally, suspicious activities like shared phone numbers and IP addresses, and accounts created using the identities of dead individuals were found by the PGCB.
In response, BetMGM has closed all of the identified accounts, as well as blocked devices and financial instruments connected to the accounts, and improved its fraud detection systems.