Regulators continue to take action against a particular offshore sportsbook, as Bovada has restricted its platform for Arizona sports betting.
The Arizona Department of Gaming announced Tuesday that it had sent a cease and desist letter to Curaçao-based Harp Media BV, which operates Bovada. The letter instructed Bovada to immediately cease Arizona sports betting operations.
Bovada has added Arizona to its list of restricted states.
“We are actively monitoring the evolving landscape of online gaming and taking proactive steps like this helps us protect Arizona’s communities and economy from illegal activities,” ADG Director Jackie Johnson said in the release. “Our enforcement team is committed to preventing unauthorized operations from establishing a foothold here. Arizona will not be a safe haven for unlicensed and unlawful gaming, nor will we allow unlawful entities to compromise the integrity of gaming within our state.”
Arizona acts on illegal sports betting
The letter was sent Nov. 8, according to the release. It came following an investigation into the offshore operator, which the release notes is an “alleged felony criminal enterprise.”
The investigation claims Harp Media is in violation of three Arizona gaming laws:
- Promotion of gambling
- Illegal control of an enterprise
- Money laundering
The ADG also urged residents to only use legal, regulated sportsbooks.
States continue Bovada crackdown
Arizona is the 16th state (plus Washington, DC) to join the offshore sportsbook’s list of banned jurisdictions.
Bovada has exited the bulk of those this year, as regulators began issuing the cease and desist letter en masse. It started with Michigan earlier this summer.
Here are the restricted jurisdictions:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Colombia
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
Call for more offshore sports betting help
Bovada is just one illegal sportsbook in a significant offshore market. The American Gaming Association estimates US bettors wager nearly $64 billion annually with offshore sportsbooks.
In 2022, the AGA asked the federal government to help crack down on illegal sports betting operators. Last year, multiple state legislators joined the AGA in the call, as well.
The Department of Justice has cracked down on illegal gambling before in a major takedown of online poker in 2011.
