Florida tells payment giants: Stop working with illegal gambling sites

Florida’s Attorney General says the state has sent cease-and-desist letters to several major payment companies to warn that they are violating state laws by providing services to unauthorized gambling operators.

James Uthmeier announced the move in a press conference on June 10, during which he detailed authorities’ collaborative effort to shut down unlicensed gambling sites. In a Florida AG’s office press release, he cautioned that payment processors’ facilitation of illegal online gaming may implicate the state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act).

Uthmeier wrote on X that Florida has targeted multiple renowned payment companies, including:

American Express

Mastercard

Visa

“Payment processors such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express undermine Florida law by facilitating transactions for foreign-owned illegal online gaming,” added Florida’s AG in a post on June 10. “Today, they’re receiving a cease and desist. My office will take appropriate legal..