The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office on Thursday announced that it has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Harp Media B.V., the Curaçao-based parent company of Bovada.

Bovada, an offshore sports betting and iGaming website, operates without a license in the Commonwealth. The attorney general’s office said Bovada is in violation of consumer protection laws.

A cease and desist is a formal communication sent by one party to another. The notice will usually call for the immediate stoppage of an illegal or allegedly illegal activity.

Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office informed Bovada to cease operations, refund customers in U.S. currency

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office is demanding Bovada end its illegal services and refund users in the form of U.S. currency.

“Since 2011, Bovada has presented itself as a legitimate American gambling operator, but without any proper Massachusetts license. Unlicensed 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 and underage play, and do not provide consumers with reliable access to their funds since most unlicensed operators are offshore,” the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office said in a press release.

The letter claims Bovada is in violation of state consumer protection laws under Chapter 93A. This means the operator is holding itself out to Massachusetts residents as a “USA-based” gambling operator.

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is working to combat youth problem gambling

This is Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s latest effort to battle the public health disorders associated with gambling. In March, Campbell announced the formation of the Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition (YSBSC). The YSBSC is a new private-public partnership for raising awareness about the laws and risks surrounding youth sports gambling.

Bovada and other offshore sportsbooks have been targeted by Bay State regulators for the past several months. Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) Commissioner Nakisha Skinner requested the MGC discuss sending Bovada a cease-and-desist letter earlier this year.

“Are there any steps we may want to take as a commission? Just with the understanding that our hands are somewhat tied, but I think it’s worth the discussion of maybe sending a cease-and-desist letter of our own. I know there are some jurisdictions that are holding their vendors accountable, making an inquiry as to whether they’re doing business with these illegal markets,” she said.

List of banned U.S. jurisdictions for Bovada

In September, three states banned Bovada permanently: Kansas, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. All three states had also sent the offshore company a cease-and-desist notice.

As of October 2024, a total of 13 states and Washington, D.C. restrict access to Bovada:

  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Washington, D.C.
  • West Virginia

The states gave Harp Media B.V. exactly 14 days to prevent residents in those jurisdictions from placing wagers via Bovada. Regulators would have taken legal action had Bovada refused to comply.

If caught in Michigan, unlicensed gambling operators in the state may face imprisonment for up to 10 years. The business can also receive a fine worth up to $100,000.

BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, FanDuel, Fanatics, and Hard Rock are among the roughly 30 legal sports betting operators in the U.S.