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An important step forward for the US online gaming market was the prohibition of well-known offshore betting site Bovada from operating in Connecticut and Washington, D.C. This action is a component of a larger national initiative to limit unauthorized gaming platforms.
Bovada’s parent company, Harp Media B.V., was given an order to shut down by Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). According to the DCP, Bovada had broken both the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) and state law. Curaçao is home to Harp Media B.V.’s headquarters. While it hasn’t issued a comparable order, Washington, D.C. has blocked Bovada in tandem with its growth of authorized online sports betting companies like BetMGM, Caesars, and DraftKings.
This enforcement is not isolated to Connecticut and Washington D.C. Bovada is also barred from operating in eight other states: Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Michigan, Colorado, and West Virginia. Earlier this year, Michigan and Colorado led the way by issuing cease and desist orders. Michigan’s Gaming Control Board highlighted Bovada’s breaches of the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, and state criminal laws.
Despite these legal restrictions, some users in banned states continue to access their Bovada accounts, though new sign-ups from these areas are blocked. This ongoing access raises significant concerns about data security and the potential risks to personal and financial information.
Regulators emphasize that licensed and regulated platforms must provide robust support for problem gambling, including tools for setting time and money limits, and options for self-exclusion. Unlicensed sites like Bovada, however, lack these protections, posing higher risks for gambling addiction and financial security.
Kaitlyn Krasselt, spokesperson for the DCP, noted that bettors on licensed platforms have protection if issues arise, something unlicensed platforms cannot offer. She warned that users on unregulated sites place their money and personal information at significant risk.
The crackdown on Bovada is likely to persist. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is contemplating similar measures, including a cease and desist order, while the Louisiana Gaming Control Board is exploring actions against the site. Protecting residents from unregulated gambling remains a priority.
In a statement from May, Bill Miller, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA), stressed the importance of shielding the public from dubious offshore betting websites. He urged other states to emulate Michigan’s efforts in combating illegal online gaming.