The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has issued cease-and-desist orders to five gambling operators, including the controversial online poker platform, ClubWPT. Announced on Friday, the orders were issued due to various violations such as illegal gambling promotion, illegal control of an enterprise, and money laundering. The companies receiving these notices, in addition to ClubWPT, are BetOpenly, Bookmaker, Kutt Inc., and Raffle Creator.
"Arizona is taking decisive action against illegal gambling operators that put Arizonans at risk," stated Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG. She emphasized that these cease-and-desist orders serve as a clear warning that the operators' activities are in violation of state law and must cease immediate promotion of illegal gambling.
The ADG instructs these operators to halt all gambling activities in Arizona, whether conducted online or via mobile devices. If they fail to comply, the ADG may pursue both criminal and civil actions against the involved entities, principals, and employees. Additionally, the operators could be liable for restitution to those who lost money, with the potential to forfeit all earnings obtained through illegal gaming.
2025 has been a busy year for Arizona's gaming regulator. Since the beginning of the year, the ADG has sent cease-and-desist orders to over ten gambling operators for operating without the necessary gaming licenses and offering sweepstakes gambling games.
Last year, other operators receiving similar orders from the ADG included Stake.us, High 5 Casino, ARB Gaming, LLC, MyBookie, and Generiz.
For ClubWPT, the cease-and-desist order intensifies scrutiny over its operations in North America, particularly regarding claims that it allows users under 21 to participate in pay-to-play poker tournaments. The ADG also accuses the company of misleading consumers with "no purchase necessary" language associated with its sweepstakes.
The ADG challenges ClubWPT's assertion that it operates within existing sweepstakes laws, considering this representation fraudulent and misleading. The regulator points out that poker is illegal in Arizona and that attempts to categorize its activities as sweepstakes are flawed. "Sweepstakes is not a defined term under Arizona law, and there are no 'sweepstakes' laws or regulations that provide an exception to illegal gambling statutes," commented Douglas Jensen, Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the ADG.
In response to regulatory challenges, ClubWPT has adjusted its operations, modifying its offerings state-by-state. In California, the platform revised its services to allow only tournaments and cash games, while it reestablished its presence in New York after the state banned sweepstakes casinos under a bill signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.
As of July 2026, ClubWPT is operational in over 20 U.S. markets.
