Louisiana has become the latest state to issue a cease-and-desist order to try to force out offshore operator Bovada.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) sent a letter dated Aug. 6 and shown to SBC Americas that ordered the Curaçao-based, Harp Media-owned provider to halt operations in the state.
At an Aug. 15 meeting, LGCB Chairman Chris Hebert praised states’ efforts to shut down Bovada’s efforts.
“Bovada is allowing Louisiana residents and/or persons located in the state of Louisiana to place wagers via mobile application and internet websites with online casino services which include sportsbook, iGaming, table games slots, live dealer, poker, horse racing, and hundreds of other gambling options in violation of Louisiana gaming laws and regulations,” Hebert wrote in the letter.
“Recently, our regulatory colleagues in states such as Michigan and Connecticut have sent similar letters, which have caused Bovada to restrict access to its site to residents of those respective states,” he told members. “It is my sincere hope that Louisiana will join the list of restricted states based on our letter, but also that soon the federal government will use its resources to crack down on companies that don’t have in place the regulatory, legal, and financial safeguards necessary to operate within the U.S. betting market.”
Hebert also stressed that Bovada, “must continue to allow all Louisiana customers to withdraw any funds currently held by Bovada. Failure to comply may result in additional civil and/or criminal actions.”
A LGCB spokesperson told SBC Americas that as of Aug. 30, the board has not received confirmation that the letter has been received by Bovada.
Bovada block list grows ever longer
That lack of receipt follows a similar pattern that has been seen in numerous other states: a regulator sends a cease-and-desist letter with a deadline, they get no response, the deadline is often missed, and then Bovada silently updates its list of jurisdictions to denote that it has blocked users in that state.
It’s a long list. As of Aug. 30, Bovada states on its website that it restricts users in:
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Maryland
- Delaware
- Michigan
- Colorado
- West Virginia
- Connecticut
- Washington, D.C.
- Ohio
Louisiana is not yet on the list.
Most recently, Ohio dropped the hammer and Bovada stopped accepting wagers in the state last week. Michigan and Colorado initially started the movement of C&Ds in May.
