Bovada Banned in Both Michigan and Colorado

• The offshore sportsbook and casino is now restricting access in Michigan and Colorado
• Both Michigan and Colorado sent the operator cease-and-desist letters within the last month
• Connecticut recently sent Bovada a notice as well, but access is still available in the state

Bovada, an offshore and unregulated sportsbook/casino, is no longer available in Michigan or Colorado.

The unregulated gaming operator has pulled its services out of both states after their respective gaming regulators sent its parent company, Harp Media B.V., legal notices to cease operations.

Bovada now restricts access in seven states across the U.S. Connecticut may be next, as the state’s Department of Consumer Protection also sent a notice to the operator last week.

States Taking Notice of Bovada

Bovada is now banned in both Michigan and Colorado, following notices their gaming regulators sent to the operator.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) sent a cease-and-desist letter to the operator on May 29. The gaming control board gave Harp Media B.V. 14-days from the receipt of the letter to prevent Michigan residents from gambling on their websites, or the MGCB will take legal action against the company.

Harp Media B.V. is located in Willemstad, Curaçao.

The gaming control board claims Harp Media B.V. is in violation of several Michigan gaming laws:

• Lawful Internet Gaming Act: States internet gaming may only be offered by a licensed internet gaming operator
• Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act: Prohibits a party from conducting a gambling operations without a licensed issued by the MGCB. Parties operating unlicensed gambling operations in the state may face imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine up to $100,000 or both
• Michigan Penal Code: Broadly prohibits any form of gambling, which generally involves the elements of consideration, prize, and chance. Such as, accepting money, or anything of value, with the understanding that money, or anything of value, will be paid to any person based on the outcome of an uncertain event is prohibited

Colorado has also been added to the list of restricted states on Bovada’s website.

As noted on Bovada’s website, customers living in restricted states can only withdraw remaining funds in their accounts as cryptocurrency.

Connecticut Orders Stop

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protections officially sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bovada as well. The Department of Consumer Protections alerted Sports Betting Dime today that it sent the notice to Bovada on Friday, June 14.

The letter requires the illegal sportsbook operator to “immediately cease and desist offering its games and services to Connecticut customers” or it may result in civil and/or criminal penalties.

In a letter written by Kristofer Gilman, Director of Gaming in Connecticut, Harp Media B.V. is notified that it is in violation of Connecticut General Statutes 53-278b, 53-278d, and the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA).

Bovada does not possess an online gaming operator’s license in the state, nor do its actions fall within any of the excepted activities to the prohibition on gambling, Gilman wrote in the notice.

“Bovada’s promotion of unlicensed and illegal gambling services is also an unfair trade practice, which violates CUTPA,” Gilman wrote.

As of the publication of this article, Bovada’s services are still open to Connecticut residents.