“Online Gambling Scams Surge: BBB Issues Consumer Alert”

“Online Gambling Scams Surge: BBB Issues Consumer Alert”

The Better Business Bureau has issued a robust warning to U.S. and Canadian consumers amid a sharp rise in complaints tied to unlicensed online gambling platforms. From 2022 through mid‑2025 the BBB recorded nearly 200 “Scam Tracker” reports and over 10,000 business complaints related to online casinos, sportsbooks and prediction‑market sites operating without proper licensing. The Gazette
These platforms typically lure bettors with high‑payout promises, accept cryptocurrency or off‑shore deposits, but lack regulated safeguards such as age‑verification, self‑exclusion tools, transparent odds and robust AML (anti‑money‑laundering) controls. The result: gamblers losing thousands of dollars, regulatory blind spots and reputational risk for the broader industry.
For operators and regulators: this signals a red‑flag moment. Licensed venues must double down on consumer protections, while state agencies should boost enforcement and education efforts. Unlicensed platforms threaten the integrity of regulated markets and expose consumers to outsized losses.

💥 TRI‑STATE HEAT

• New York: New York State Gaming Commission reports a weekly online sports‑betting handle of $655,664,182 for the week ending Oct. 26, marking another milestone in the state’s booming marketplace. Sports Betting Dime

• New Jersey: No verified updates in the last 48 hours.

• Pennsylvania: No verified updates in the last 48 hours.

🌍 GLOBAL GAMBLING BUZZ

• Crypto Prediction Market Shutdown in Romania: Polymarket has been blacklisted by Romania’s national regulator ONJN after facilitating more than $600 million in wagers tied to elections without a proper licence. CoinCentral+1

• Canada’s Indigenous Casino Boom: The Snuneymuxw First Nation is set to become the largest Indigenous‑owned gaming operator by revenue in Canada, after acquiring two more casinos in British Columbia, subject to regulatory approval. Casino.org

🔮 HOROSCOPE HUSTLE (Entertainment Only – not investment advice)