Bovada’s days of operating freely in US States appear to be coming to a close as more and more states take action against the unlicensed operator. Late last week, the state of Michigan upped the ante in their battle against Bovada by blocking the site entirely to Michigan internet users, and it’s likely that other US States will do the same thing.
Michigan’s battle with Bovada started late last month when state gaming regulators sent the Curacao-based online casino and sportsbook a cease-and-desist letter telling them to stop operating in Michigan. State gaming regulators followed up their letter by simply blocking the site entirely. That’s a move that’s pretty common in places like Australia and England, but hasn’t been seen a lot in the US until recently. Currently, Bovada is blocking customers in seven other states besides Michigan including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York.
The regulated US gambling industry is pushing hard against unregulated operators like Bovada and that effort is backed by the powerful American Gaming Association (AGA). In a statement posted on X, American Gaming Association SVP of Government Relations, Chris Cylke lauded recent actions against Bovada saying, “Successful enforcement actions against bovada by michigan and colorado are proof that states have the tools to fight back against offshore operators and should serve as blueprints for other states to follow. But states should not have to take on this battle alone – the DOJ [Department of Justice] must also use its powers to aid the fight against illegal gambling, which Congress has clearly identified as a department priority.”
From the looks of these recent actions, the US is going to be a difficult market for Bovada for the foreseeable future.