Bovada Complies With Tennessee Cease-and-Desist Order, But Fines Still Unpaid

Bovada added Tennessee to its restricted states list this week after receiving several cease-and-desist notices. However, three fines for a total of $50,000 from the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council are still outstanding.

The Tennessee gaming council was one of the first regulatory bodies to financially penalize Bovada after investigators placed bets on the platform on three separate occasions.

Fines Still Outstanding

Tennessee is the 16th U.S. market to be placed on Bovada’s restricted list. Bovada informed users on Tuesday, Nov. 5, that it would be closing state accounts and returning balances to users.

“Our licensed sportsbook operators provide important consumer protections not found in the illegal market, and the closure of Bovada’s virtual doors in Tennessee is an important step toward the eradication of unlicensed, illegal sportsbooks in Tennessee,” said Billy Orgel, chairman of the Sports Wagering Council, in a press release. “One of the council’s primary roles is the protection of the public interest through a safe, regulated environment, and our staff will continue to work closely with our network of law enforcement at the state and federal level to eliminate illegal sports betting.”

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council was one of the first regulatory bodies to actually fine the offshore gaming company. The council fined Bovada three separate times after the company continue to offer sports bets in the state after several cease-and-desist notices were sent out. Tennessee sports betting law allows the council to impose a $10,000 fine for a first offense of accepting illegal sports bets, $15,000 for a second offense, and $25,000 for a third offense.

The council issued three separate fines for a total of $50,000. They are still unpaid, according to the council.

There is little chance that Bovada actually pays the fine. The company is notorious for not acknowledging communications from U.S. sports betting regulators and the council likely has little power to actually enforce such a fine. Harp Media B.V., the parent company of Bovada, operates in Willemstad, Curaçao, which poses a unique set of difficulties if the council wanted to pursue legal action against them.

Bovada Restricting Access in Several States

Several state regulatory gaming bodies have issued cease-and-desist letters to Bovada over the course of the last year, ordering the offshore gaming company out of their markets. Bovada has mostly agreed to these notices, restricting access to 15 states and Washington, D.C. As was the case in all of these markets, Bovada never acknowledged the notices or told the states of their plans to restrict access.

The restricted U.S. markets are as follows:

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