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There was a time when offshore betting site Bovada had free reign in the United States. That time, however, seems to be coming to a close.
Ohio became the 11th state on Bovada’s restricted list, which is a tally of states in which Bovada doesn’t offer its online sportsbook and casino sites. The Ohio ban comes just weeks after Ohio Control Commission Executive Director Matthew T. Schuler sent Bovada a cease-and-desist letter.
In the Aug. 6 letter, he gave Bovada 10 days to cease its operations in the Buckeye State:
“Because Bovada is offering unlicensed and illegal online gaming products within Ohio, the Commission demands that Bovada cease and desist from offering, participating in the offering, or facilitating those who offer these products in the State of Ohio. Bovada shall notify the Commission in writing no later than August 16, 2024, that it has complied with this cease-and-desist notice.”
Key takeaways
- Bovada no longer offers its online casino and sportsbook in Ohio.
- Ohio becomes the 11th state to join Bovada’s restricted list.
- A flurry of states have taken action against Bovada in recent months.
Why Ohio regulators threatened legal action against Bovada
Ohio law prohibits a company from offering an online casino within the state’s borders. Additionally, a company can offer online sports betting only if it goes through the proper licensing process.
Bovada was offering online casino gaming, poker and a sportsbook. The former two were deemed illegal, and the latter was happening without Bovada seeking a license through the Ohio Gaming Commission.
Furthermore, Bovada was allegedly allowing customers age 18 and up to place wagers, whereas Ohio’s minimum gambling age is 21. Schuler noted in his letter it was a criminal offense in Ohio to allow someone under 21 to gamble.
“Another troubling aspect of Bovada’s online gaming product is the offering to consumers over the age of eighteen,” Schuler wrote. “It is a separate criminal offense in Ohio to permit a person under the age of [twenty-one] to wager at a casino facility or engage in sports gaming.”
The letter resulted in Bovada adding Ohio to its restricted list, which also includes:
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- West Virginia
- Washington D.C.
Ohio joins West Virginia, Connecticut in Bovada bans
It’s been a summer of Bovada bans in US online casino markets. Connecticut and West Virginia, two of seven states that offer legal online casinos, also sent cease-and-desist letters to Bovada in the past three months.
West Virginia Lottery Director John A. Myers sent a letter to Bovada on June 26, noting that Bovada’s parent company was allowing Bovada to “place wagers via mobile app and desktop website on its platform in violation of West Virginia law,” according to a copy of the letter obtained by PlayUSA.
In July, Connecticut regulators sent a letter to Bovada asking the operator to “immediately cease and resist offering its games and services to Connecticut customers.”
The recent run of states landing on Bovada’s restricted list might not be over, either. Louisiana and Massachusetts are among states considering legal action against Bovada, according to Legal Sports Report.
Gamblers face added risk when placing bets on offshore sites
Because offshore sites like Bovada operate outside the law, they aren’t held to the same standards that legal online casinos and sportsbooks do.
Whereas states with online gambling have extensive rules for background checks, security measures and responsible gaming, offshore sites like Bovada have no such framework.
As a result, customers who place bets via Bovada face the possibility that Bovada may not allow them to withdraw their winnings or even go as far as not to pay out a winning bet. If that happens, customers have very little recourse to get their money back.
