States Begin Cracking Down on Bovada, Restricting Access to Gambling Platform

Bovada, the popular offshore gaming company, has recently restricted access to Washington, D.C. and Connecticut for its users. This move comes after receiving a cease-and-desist notice from Connecticut officials and coincides with the expansion of online sports betting in Washington, D.C.

Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protections sent a notice to Bovada’s parent company, Harp Media B.V., citing violations of state statutes. Connecticut only allows three licensed gaming operators, which does not include Bovada. Despite the cease-and-desist notice, Bovada has added Connecticut to its list of restricted states.

In a surprising move, Bovada has also restricted access to Washington, D.C. The district recently expanded online sports betting to include multiple operators, such as FanDuel and DraftKings. It is unclear if D.C. regulators sent a notice to Bovada before the restriction.

The trend of states pushing back against Bovada is expected to continue, with Massachusetts and Louisiana regulators discussing potential actions against the company. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission and Louisiana Gaming Control Board are considering sending cease-and-desist notices to protect their citizens from illegal online sports wagering.

As more states take action against Bovada, the future of online sports betting regulation remains uncertain. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.