Ohio shows Bovada the door in latest action against offshore market

Ohio has become the latest state to show Bovada the door, issuing a cease-and-desist letter to the Curacao-based operator, which has already wound down its operations, after receiving a two-week period to comply.

Bovada exits from 12th state in the USA

Bovada, which is an internationally known name, has already faced similar moves in several other states, including Connecticut and Michigan, with both states enacting a similar enforcement measure asking the company to leave the market.

However, these are not the only states where Bovada has been asked to exit, with the company having had to comply in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Louisiana, showing a strong coordination between state regulators against one of the biggest and hitherto mostly undeterred offshore operators.

This brings the total list of states where Bovada is not available to 12, including New Jersey, New York, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Nevada, Maryland, and Delaware.

Bovada has not had a license from a state-recognized watchdog to operate in any of the states mentioned that have taken regulatory action, but the cease-and-desist letter is a formal statement of the fact that Ohio is not going to tolerate a "grey" status.

The cease-and-desist letter in Ohio was issued by the state regulator, the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which was addressed to Harp Media B.V. dba Bovada, and named both Bovada.lv and Bovada.com as potential guilty parties.

Underage gambling and operating without a license

Signed by the regulator’s Executive Director, Matthew T. Schuler, the letter explains that Harp Media B.V. has been offering unlicensed or illegal online gaming products in Ohio, including an online casino, a poker room, and a sportsbook, among others.

"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," T. Schuler’s letter reads and then goes on to quote laws under which the decision is enforceable.

Among them is the fact that Bovada’s website has been allowing players to create accounts when they are as young as 18 as opposed to the state’s legal gambling age, which is 21.

The original letter was sent to Bovada on August 6 and had a deadline set for August 16. Bovada has since updated its website to say that it will no longer be accepting players from Ohio, which signifies that the website has most certainly complained about the request.

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