As the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office works to limit the effects of MA sports betting on children, it became the latest state to take action on illegal offshore sportsbook Bovada.
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell‘s office sent a cease-and-desist letter Thursday to Harp Media B.V. and Hove Media to shut down Bovada in the MA sports betting market. The letter also demands the operator refund all users in US currency.
The Massachusetts letter is the most recent state-level effort to crack down on Bovada. Multiple states have sent cease-and-desist letters to the illegal sportsbook this year, leading the operator to restrict access to 14 states, including three last month.
Regulators hinted at Bovada action
In June, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission discussed potential action against illegal gambling operators.
The attorney general’s letter notes that Bovada has presented itself since 2011 as a legitimate US sports betting operator but does not hold a proper Massachusetts license. The letter also said Bovada is in violation of state consumer protection laws.
“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 press release adds.
MA sports betting youth campaign
The press release said the letter is Campbell’s latest measure to “combat the public health harms associated with sports betting and gambling, especially among young people.”
In March, Campbell announced the Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition, a public-private partnership that aims to raise awareness of the risks of sports betting among minors.
The coalition includes a variety of stakeholders, including the MGC, Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.
Growing efforts against Bovada
The American Gaming Association and multiple state regulators have asked the federal government for assistance in tackling offshore operators. Last month, the IRS said the illegal US sports betting market is worth more than $700 million.
Bovada lists 14 markets as restricted:
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Washington DC
- West Virginia
