The illegally operated offshore gaming company Bovada Adds Massachusetts to Restricted States List

The course of action came 19 days after the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office issued a cease-and-desist letter to Harp Media B.V. and Hove Media, collectively known as Bovada.

Bovada Adds Massachusetts to List

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office did not respond to a request for comment from Sports Betting Dime. If the pattern holds, Bovada likely never acknowledged the receipt of the cease-and-desist notice nor gave Massachusetts regulators a warning that it would add the commonwealth to its restricted list.

According to the letter sent by attorney general’s office, Bovada was violating state gaming and sports betting laws by portraying itself to Massachusetts residents as a “USA-based” gambling operator, inducing commonwealth consumers to participate in illegal and unregulated forms of gambling.

“Since 2011, Bovada has presented itself as a legitimate American gambling operator, but without any proper Massachusetts license. Unlicensed operators pose a substantial danger to consumers because they do not go through the same rigorous review as licensed operators, have limited or no protections against gambling addiction and underage play, and do not provide consumers with reliable access to their funds since most unlicensed operators are offshore,” the Attorney General’s Office noted in a press release.

Bovada’s presence in the state had also been on the radar of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for several months. Commissioner Nakisha Skinner actually requested the MGC discuss sending Bovada a cease-and-desist letter earlier this year.

“Are there any steps we may want to take as a commission? Just with the understanding that our hands are somewhat tied, but I think it’s worth the discussion of maybe sending a cease-and-desist letter of our own. I know there are some jurisdictions that are holding their vendors accountable, making an inquiry as to whether they’re doing business with these illegal markets,” she said.

Fifteen Total Markets Blocked in U.S.

Massachusetts is the 14th state added to the restricted list. Last month, Bovada restricted access in Kansas, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. All three states had sent the illegally operated offshore gaming company a cease-and-desist notice, Bovada never acknowledged receipt of the notice, and then added the states to its list of restricted markets without any notice.

The offshore operator currently restricts access in 14 states and Washington, D.C. The restricted U.S. markets are as follows:

• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Washington, D.C.
• West Virginia

No other states have currently issued Bovada a cease-and-desist notice.