Massachusetts Becomes the Latest State to Ban Bovada

Add Massachusetts to the growing list of states that have ordered a Bovada ban through a cease-and-desist letter. State Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s office issued its warning letter on Oct. 3.

Campbell told state residents that unlicensed offshore 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 or underage play, and
• Do not provide consumers with reliable access to their funds since most unlicensed operators are offshore.

The AG’s office directed the cease-and-desist letter to Harp Media B.V. in Curacao and Hove Media in Comoros, a union of African islands northwest of Madagascar.

List of Bovada Ban States Grows

Legal sports betting states around the country have stepped up efforts to ban Bovada in 2024. To date, the offshore sportsbook has added states, including Kansas and Pennsylvania, to its restricted jurisdiction list.

The list also includes:

• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Washington, DC
• West Virginia

The American Gaming Association estimates Americans bet nearly $64 billion with illegal online sportsbooks and bookies each year. Another $338 billion changes hands at illegal online casinos.

In June 2022, Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada and Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking his office to crack down on illegal offshore sports betting.

Massachusetts AG Explains the Legal Action

At the Mass.gov website, Campbell updated Massachusetts consumers about Bovada and the commonwealth’s cease-and-desist warning to the company.

“Bovada offers online casino games and sports wagering without any license issued by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, violating state gaming and sports betting laws,” her news release said. “Additionally, the letter claims Bovada is in violation of state consumer protection laws under Chapter 93A by holding itself out to Massachusetts residents as a ‘USA-based’ gambling operator.”

Bovada then induces Massachusetts consumers to “participate in illegal and unregulated forms of gambling.” Campbell’s office directs Bovada to shut down access in the jurisdiction and to refund its bettors with U.S. currency.