Need to check whether a gambling site is licensed, report a disputed payout, or find the right self-exclusion program? Start with the agency responsible for that activity.
The tricky part is that one agency rarely handles everything. Casinos, sportsbooks, lotteries, horse racing, and charitable games can fall under different authorities. Tribal casinos also have their own regulatory arrangements.
This directory covers all 50 states and Washington, DC, with links to official agencies and guidance on choosing the right contact.
Information checked: October 25, 2026.
Find the right contact for your question
| What you need | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Check a casino or sportsbook’s license | The regulator’s official operator or licensee list |
| Resolve a payout or account dispute | The operator’s complaints process, followed by the appropriate regulator |
| Dispute a result at a tribal casino | Casino management, then the tribal gaming authority under the applicable dispute procedure |
| Ask about a lottery ticket or prize | The lottery organization responsible for that ticket |
| Report suspected illegal gambling | The relevant enforcement agency or local law enforcement |
| Stop gambling or restrict access | The applicable official self-exclusion program and gambling-support services |
| Obtain a business or employee license | The agency responsible for that specific gambling category |
A regulator’s authority has limits. Its presence in this directory does not mean it licenses every gambling product offered in that state.
Official gambling agencies: Alabama through Georgia
| State | Official agencies and resources | What to know before contacting them |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency | For suspected criminal activity, contact the appropriate law-enforcement authority. Racing-related oversight can be local. For a tribal casino dispute, use the casino’s tribal regulatory process rather than assuming ALEA is its licensing authority. |
| Alaska | Department of Revenue — Charitable Gaming Program | Handles charitable gaming permits and related oversight. This is not a general casino or online sportsbook licensing agency. Ask for the Tax Division’s Charitable Gaming Program. |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Gaming | Covers event wagering, fantasy sports, racing, and state responsibilities relating to tribal gaming. Tribal casino disputes may require the tribe’s own process. |
| Arkansas | Racing & Gaming Commission | The commission’s site provides racing and casino-gaming information. Use its Casino Gaming Section for casino-related rules and licensing resources. |
| California | California Gambling Control Commission; Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control | Licensing, enforcement, cardroom issues, and tribal gaming responsibilities are divided. The commission’s complaint guidance helps identify the appropriate recipient. |
| Colorado | Colorado Division of Gaming | Start here for state-regulated casino gambling and sports betting. Racing, lottery, and charitable bingo or raffles have separate oversight. |
| Connecticut | Department of Consumer Protection — Gaming Division | Provides information about authorized gambling, licensing, and player protections. The appropriate procedure can depend on whether the issue involves online play, lottery activity, or a tribal casino. |
| Delaware | Delaware Lottery; Delaware Gaming Enforcement | The Lottery provides casino, internet-gaming, and sports-lottery information. Gaming Enforcement has investigative and enforcement responsibilities. |
| District of Columbia | Office of Lottery and Gaming | Use OLG resources for sports-wagering regulation and licensing. Lottery and charitable-gaming matters also fall within its responsibilities. |
| Florida | Florida Gaming Control Commission | Covers specified gambling activities, including pari-mutuel wagering, cardrooms, slot facilities, and compact oversight. The state lottery is separate. Tribal patron disputes may require the tribal process. |
| Georgia | Georgia Lottery — COAM; GBI Commercial Gambling Unit | The Lottery handles coin-operated amusement machine licensing. The GBI unit investigates related commercial-gambling violations. Use the Lottery’s regular customer service for lottery-ticket matters. |
Alaska’s gaming program is focused on charitable activity. Florida expressly excludes the state lottery from its commission’s remit, and Georgia divides COAM licensing and enforcement responsibilities between different organizations. These distinctions matter when choosing a contact.
Official gambling agencies: Hawaii through Maryland
| State | Official agencies and resources | What to know before contacting them |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | Office of Consumer Protection; local police | For suspected gambling crimes, contact the police department serving the relevant location. Consumer Protection handles qualifying consumer issues; it is not a casino licensing commission. |
| Idaho | Idaho Lottery — Charitable Gaming | Provides charitable bingo and raffle licensing information. Lottery, racing, and tribal casino matters have different routes. |
| Illinois | Illinois Gaming Board | Regulates casino gambling, video gaming, and sports wagering. Choose the relevant category when checking licensees or finding enforcement information. |
| Indiana | Indiana Gaming Commission | Provides casino, sports-wagering, paid fantasy sports, charitable-gaming, and exclusion resources. Its homepage links directly to separate casino and sports-wagering complaint forms. |
| Iowa | Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission | Start here for state-regulated casinos, racing, and sports wagering. Lottery and charitable-gaming questions may belong elsewhere. |
| Kansas | Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission | Handles regulatory and enforcement responsibilities for state-owned casino games and related wagering. Its site also identifies the State Gaming Agency for tribal compact matters. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation | Covers horse racing, pari-mutuel wagering, sports wagering, and charitable gaming. Older references may still use the former Horse Racing Commission name. |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Gaming Control Board | Its complaint directory distinguishes casino, video poker, and sports-wagering matters from lottery and racing issues. Investigations may be handled by Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement. |
| Maine | Maine Gambling Control Unit | Provides category-specific resources for casinos, sports wagering, fantasy contests, advance-deposit wagering, and charitable gaming. Use the relevant section rather than assuming every product follows the same procedure. |
| Maryland | Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency | Start here for state-regulated casinos, sports wagering, licensing, and other gaming information. Horse racing has separate regulatory arrangements. |
Kentucky’s current corporation expressly includes charitable gaming and sports wagering in its remit. Louisiana’s official complaint page identifies separate contacts for lottery and horse-racing matters.
Official gambling agencies: Massachusetts through New York
| State | Official agencies and resources | What to know before contacting them |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Gaming Commission | Covers casinos, sports wagering, and racing responsibilities. Its voluntary self-exclusion resources explain the available categories of exclusion. |
| Michigan | Michigan Gaming Control Board | Provides resources for Detroit casinos, internet gaming, sports wagering, fantasy contests, and other specified activities. Tribal casino disputes have distinct jurisdictional considerations. |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Gambling Control Board | This board regulates lawful charitable gambling. Do not assume that it handles tribal casino disputes simply because its name includes “Gambling Control.” |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Gaming Commission | Provides casino and charitable-gaming resources, license verification, patron complaint procedures, and self-exclusion information. |
| Missouri | Missouri Gaming Commission | Its site separates casino gaming, charitable games, fantasy sports, and sports wagering. Select the complaint or license list for the correct category. |
| Montana | Department of Justice — Gambling Control Division | Start here for state gambling licenses, regulated gambling activity, and enforcement questions. Tribal gaming, lottery, and racing matters may require different contacts. |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission | Provides racing and casino-gaming oversight resources, along with voluntary self-exclusion information. |
| Nevada | Nevada Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission | The shared official site provides licensing, enforcement, and patron complaint resources. Use the “Problem with a Casino or iGaming Complaint” route for a player issue. |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Lottery and Gaming Commission — Compliance | Provides gaming compliance information. Specify whether your question concerns charitable gaming, sports wagering, lottery activity, or another regulated category. |
| New Jersey | Division of Gaming Enforcement | Start with DGE for gambling enforcement, player disputes, internet gaming, sports wagering, and self-exclusion information. The Casino Control Commission has separate licensing and adjudicatory responsibilities. |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Gaming Control Board | Its site distinguishes state-licensed gaming complaints from tribal disputes and provides separate resources for each. |
| New York | New York State Gaming Commission | Provides category-specific information for commercial casinos, sports wagering, lottery, racing, charitable gaming, and other regulated activities. |
Minnesota’s Gambling Control Board identifies its focus as charitable gambling. New Mexico’s site separately identifies patron complaints and tribal disputes, illustrating why a single agency name is not enough to choose the correct process.
Official gambling agencies: North Carolina through Tennessee
| State | Official agencies and resources | What to know before contacting them |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | North Carolina State Lottery Commission — NC Gaming | Provides approved licensee lists and complaint procedures for the wagering activities it regulates. Tribal casino matters use a different regulatory route. |
| North Dakota | Attorney General — Gaming Division | Regulates charitable gaming. Tribal casino, lottery, and racing questions require the appropriate category-specific authority. |
| Ohio | Ohio Casino Control Commission | Covers casino gaming, sports gaming, skill-based amusement machines, and fantasy contests. Racing and lottery matters have separate oversight. |
| Oklahoma | Horse Racing Commission; OMES Gaming Compliance Unit | The Horse Racing Commission covers racing and associated gaming licensing. OMES handles state compact-compliance responsibilities. Tribes are the primary regulators of tribal casino gaming. |
| Oregon | Oregon State Police — Gaming Enforcement; DOJ — Charitable Gaming | State Police provides lottery enforcement and tribal-gaming regulatory functions. DOJ handles specified charitable gaming. Lottery and sportsbook service issues should first go through the relevant operator. |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | Covers casinos, internet gambling, sports wagering, video gaming terminals, and fantasy contests. Lottery and racing matters have separate arrangements. |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Lottery; Department of Business Regulation — Gaming and Athletics | Responsibilities are divided. Identify whether the matter involves lottery, casino or online play, sports wagering, licensing, or simulcast wagering before selecting a contact. |
| South Carolina | Department of Revenue — Bingo; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division | DOR handles bingo licensing and enforcement. Suspected criminal gambling activity belongs with the appropriate law-enforcement agency. |
| South Dakota | Commission on Gaming | Start here for Deadwood gaming and the commission’s other responsibilities. Lottery, video lottery, and tribal casino matters may have different routes. |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Sports Wagering Council | Provides sports-wagering and fantasy-sports regulatory resources. The state lottery is a separate organization. |
Oklahoma’s official guidance identifies tribes as the primary regulators of tribal gaming. Oregon separately assigns gaming-enforcement and charitable-gaming functions, while Pennsylvania’s board lists the specific gambling categories within its remit.
Official gambling agencies: Texas through Wyoming
| State | Official agencies and resources | What to know before contacting them |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Department of Licensing and Regulation; TDLR — Charitable Bingo | Lottery and charitable bingo responsibilities transferred to TDLR in September 2025. Older pages may still name the former Texas Lottery Commission. Racing and tribal gaming have separate arrangements. |
| Utah | Utah Attorney General; local law enforcement | These are enforcement and legal-information routes, not a state casino licensing service. Contact local police about suspected criminal activity and the appropriate consumer authority about qualifying fraud concerns. |
| Vermont | Department of Liquor and Lottery — Sports Wagering | Provides sports-wagering information and player complaint resources. Identify whether your question concerns sports wagering or lottery activity. |
| Virginia | Virginia Lottery — Casinos and Sports Betting; VDACS — Charitable Gaming | The Lottery provides casino and sports-betting regulatory information. Charitable gaming is handled separately through VDACS. Racing matters have another regulatory route. |
| Washington | Washington State Gambling Commission | Provides gambling licensing, enforcement, and tribal compact resources. For a tribal casino dispute, check the casino’s tribal procedure and the commission’s jurisdiction guidance. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Lottery; official agency information | Responsibilities extend beyond ticket games to casino gaming, sports wagering, interactive wagering, and video lottery. Racing and charitable-gaming matters may require different contacts. |
| Wisconsin | Department of Administration — Division of Gaming | Provides separate resources for charitable gaming and Indian gaming regulatory compliance. Tribal casino complaints may need to follow the tribe’s dispute procedure. |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Gaming Commission | Provides resources for online sports wagering, pari-mutuel wagering, and other activities under its authority. Tribal casino disputes require the appropriate tribal process. |
Texas’s transfer to TDLR took effect September 1, 2025. Virginia’s official pages distinguish casino and sports-betting oversight from charitable gaming, and West Virginia’s Lottery identifies responsibilities extending to sports and interactive wagering.
How to check whether a gambling site is licensed
Start from the regulator’s official website, rather than a badge or certificate displayed by the gambling site.
Look for an approved-operator, licensee, or authorized-domain list. Then compare:
- The business or operator name.
- The consumer-facing brand.
- The exact website address.
- The type of gambling authorized.
- The jurisdiction in which that authorization applies.
- Any status information or restrictions shown.
A supplier license is not necessarily permission to operate a consumer gambling website. A license held in one jurisdiction does not establish authorization somewhere else.
California’s commission has warned about an unlicensed online casino displaying a forged commission license. A convincing-looking certificate is not enough; verify the claim independently.
If you cannot find the operator, contact the regulator before depositing. An absence from one list may require further investigation, especially where tribal or other regulatory arrangements apply.
How to file a gambling complaint
For ordinary account, payment, or betting disputes, begin with the operator’s formal complaints process unless the relevant authority instructs otherwise.
Ask for a written response and a case number. Save:
- Your account identifier and the operator’s exact website address.
- Dates, times, wager references, and transaction records.
- Screenshots showing the issue.
- Relevant promotion terms or game rules.
- Emails, chats, and the operator’s response.
Explain what happened and what resolution you are requesting. Avoid sending account passwords or unnecessary identity documents.
If the issue remains unresolved, follow the appropriate regulator’s instructions. North Carolina, for example, directs players to attempt resolution with the licensee before escalating a complaint to the commission.
Act promptly. Deadlines, eligibility requirements, and submission methods vary. Reporting suspected crime or urgent fraud may require contacting law enforcement directly.
Useful official complaint links
| Jurisdiction | Official route |
|---|---|
| California | Complaint routing by issue and gambling category |
| Indiana | Commission homepage with separate casino and sports-wagering complaint forms |
| Louisiana | Complaint contacts and patron dispute forms |
| Michigan | Patron disputes |
| Mississippi | Patron complaint and dispute instructions — PDF |
| Missouri | Casino gaming complaints |
| New Mexico | Patron complaints and disputes |
| North Carolina | Commission complaint procedure |
| Texas charitable bingo | TDLR page with official complaint-form link |
| Vermont sports wagering | Department’s sports-wagering resources |
Use the route that matches the activity. A casino complaint form may not accept a sportsbook, lottery, or charitable-gaming dispute.
Who handles tribal casino disputes?
Tribal casinos operate within a framework involving tribal authority, federal law, and, where applicable, tribal-state compacts.
For a disputed prize or gambling result, begin with casino management and request the applicable patron dispute procedure. If management does not resolve it, follow the procedure for contacting the tribal gaming commission or regulatory authority.
The National Indian Gaming Commission advises patrons to follow the tribal procedure, including its deadlines. It explains that reports made to the NIGC will, in most cases, be referred to the tribal regulator for investigation.
The National Indian Gaming Commission is a federal regulator. It should not be treated as a universal appeals desk for every tribal casino payout disagreement.
What if the site is offshore or calls itself a sweepstakes casino?
First establish what business you used and what type of service it claims to provide.
An offshore gambling license, a sweepstakes structure, or a supplier relationship does not establish that a U.S. state gaming commission regulates the operator or can resolve your complaint.
Read the service’s complaint procedure and preserve your records. Depending on the facts, a state gambling authority, consumer-protection office, attorney general, or law-enforcement agency may be relevant. Ask the receiving agency whether the issue falls within its authority.
Do not assume that a state regulator can recover your money, and be cautious of anyone demanding an advance payment to “release” winnings or recover a gambling balance.
Where to find self-exclusion information
Self-exclusion is separate from filing a complaint. It is intended to help restrict gambling access.
Look for an official “Responsible Gaming,” “Voluntary Exclusion,” or “Self-Exclusion” section on the regulator’s site. Check whether the program covers:
- Physical casinos.
- Online casino accounts.
- Sportsbooks.
- Other gambling categories.
- Multiple operators or only one business.
Coverage varies. Massachusetts lets applicants select among gambling categories, while New Jersey distinguishes physical gambling locations and internet-related activities. Do not assume one enrollment covers all gambling in every state.
If you need support choosing your next step, visit Gamboool’s responsible gambling page or the National Council on Problem Gambling’s help resources.
Regulators, trade associations, and support organizations are different
A gaming regulator exercises authority granted by law. A trade association represents an industry or its members. A support organization helps people affected by gambling.
Organizations such as the American Gaming Association and professional regulatory associations can provide useful research and directories. They are not substitutes for the authority responsible for your license check, complaint, or exclusion request.
Check the organization’s role before sending personal information.
Frequently asked questions
Does every state have a gaming commission?
No. Some use a dedicated commission, while others divide responsibilities among a lottery, consumer-protection department, racing authority, attorney general, or other agencies. Some issues are handled locally or through tribal authorities.
Should I contact the regulator where I live or where I gambled?
Identify the jurisdiction and license connected to the disputed activity. Your home address alone may not determine the correct regulator. Explain where and how you placed the wager, the operator involved, and the license you believe applies.
Can a regulator guarantee that I get my money back?
No. It may investigate, decide a dispute within its authority, or take enforcement action, but the available remedy depends on the facts and applicable rules. A regulatory complaint is not a substitute for legal advice about other options.
Can Gamboool handle my complaint?
No. Gamboool is an informational publisher. We do not represent regulators, manage gambling accounts, or decide disputes. Use the official routes linked above.
How this directory is maintained
This directory identifies principal agencies and explains important jurisdictional distinctions. It is not an exhaustive list of every local authority, tribal regulator, licensing office, or government department involved in gambling.
Official agency pages are the source for the links and responsibilities described here. Where agencies divide responsibilities, readers should confirm the appropriate route before submitting a request. A successful link check alone does not establish an agency’s authority over a particular dispute.
If you find an outdated agency name, broken link, or incorrect responsibility, tell us through Gamboool’s contact page. Include the state, the affected entry, and an official source supporting the correction.
This directory provides general information, not legal advice. The relevant agency’s current rules and procedures govern its services.