Arizona and state gaming officials have become the latest to move against Bovada, a prominent offshore gaming website, that has been one of the best-recognized names in the world of sports wagering in North America prior to the overturning of PASPA, which allowed sports gambling to become legal in much of the country.
Bovada Targeted in Arizona as Number of Restricted States Grows
The Arizona Department of Gaming has now confirmed that it has issued an official cease-and-desist letter to the Curacao-based company in November and has openly accused Bovada of acting as a “criminal enterprise,” citing several felony charges against it and specifically – the promotion of gambling, illegal control of an enterprise and money laundering.
In the press statement shared on Tuesday, the regulator outlined its objection to Bovada’s ongoing targeting of local players, with gaming director Jackie Johnson vowing the watchdog to do everything in its power to stop this.
Arizona has offered sports gambling legally since September 2021, and Bovada has continued to operate regardless.
“We are actively monitoring the evolving landscape of online gaming, and taking proactive steps like this helps us protect Arizona’s communities and economy from illegal activities,” Johnson assured.
The Arizona Division of Gaming has also urged players to steer clear of unauthorized gambling sites, such as Bovada, and to refrain from registering or placing wagers on them. More states have done the same.
“Our enforcement team is committed to preventing unauthorized operations from establishing a foothold here. Arizona will not be a safe haven for unlicensed or unlawful gaming, nor will we allow unlawful entities to compromise the integrity of gaming within our state,” Johnson added.
Regulators Go After the Offshore Casino and Betting Market in Force
Bovada taking a hit in its sports betting operations has not been so bad, according to esteemed industry observers, who have argued that the website is losing financial momentum because of regulators targeting its overall operations, which involve iGaming.
With iGaming only available in limited states in places like the US, the real blow to the website is in its online casino platform. Apart from Arizona, Tennessee has also targeted the website, asking it to stop operations, citing the legality of its offer and lack of license.
Bovada has tacitly complied with all of these demands so far, not issuing a public statement, but changing its terms and conditions to reflect what jurisdictions in the US are off limits – a growing list.
In October, Massachusetts also joined the ranks of states to have taken the fight to Bovada, issuing a cease-and-desist letter.
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