Scammers targeting casinos in South MS and nationwide. What can be done?
Just because they got caught posting false information on Facebook, doesn’t mean scammers have stopped targeting people with claims that online betting is legal in Mississippi.
“It has come to our attention that an unauthorized page is using images of Boomtown Casino Biloxi to promote an online casino,” the casino’s parent company posted on Facebook. A similar message was posted on the page for Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, also owned by Penn Entertainment.
Island View Casino in Gulfport also was targeted, and it’s not limited to casinos on the Coast, said Jay McDaniel, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. It’s happening at casinos in other areas of Mississippi, he said, and in New York and other states.
Chett Harrison, general manager at Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi, saw a social media post targeting Silver Star Casino in Philadelphia and said it promised $1,500 casino vouchers to those who clicked on the offer.
The bogus ads began appearing on Facebook and Instagram in late 2024, when 40 ads were posted on the same date — using photos and logos illegally copied from the website of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi.
It’s bad enough these illegal online operators are operating in Mississippi, McDaniel said. “Now they’re using the ‘front’ of a legal casino to get people to click on their site.”
Instead of linking to the legal casino, those who click on the ad are directed to the illegal site, illegal site, he said.
Penn Entertainment warned customers that Mississippi has not approved online wagering on games or sports betting.
“We urge all our guests to exercise caution and refrain from engaging with this fraudulent page,” the company posted.
Going after them
“Unless you were standing in a casino or bingo hall in our state,” McDaniel said, “if you’re on your phone and you’re paying money to play a casino style game or bet on sports — it’s illegal.”
Posting these online ads is giving Mississippi and other states an avenue to pursue the criminals, he said.
“They’re committing a fraud now,” he said.
“We know who they are,” he said, and has filed cease and desist orders against the companies, he said.
Now Mississippi is working with casino regulators in other states, he said, and building a case against the companies.
“We are working on a criminal case, potential prosecution on these bad actors,” McDaniel said.
Most of the companies are offshore, he said, and he cautions anyone about depositing money with any kind of online casino that they see.
Beware of the scams
Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi hasn’t been targeted by this online scam, Harrison said, “But obviously we’re always vulnerable to it.”
He has seen casinos in South Mississippi and Las Vegas scammed by people fraudulently directing them to immediately send a check or gift card.
“They make it look like it’s coming from ownership or leadership, right at the corporate office,” he said. Golden Nugget has systems in place to prevent getting scammed, he said, but others weren’t so lucky.
It’s not just the casinos that are threatened by the online websites. Clicking on the link of the fraudulent ads can lead to these illegal companies leaking personal data.
“Please ensure that you only interact with our official social media channels for legitimate updates and promotions,” Penn Entertainment warned. “If you see these unauthorized ads please help us and report.”
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
