Offshore Gambling Crackdown: States Order Casinos to Cease Operations | 10BET
States Order Crackdown on Offshore Gambling Websites to Cease Illegal Operations
Offshore casino and sports betting websites that illegally target players in the United States in direct violation of federal and state gaming laws are facing increasing pressure from state gaming regulators to cease their operations.
One of the more notable illegal gaming websites that has facilitated online gambling in states where this activity isn’t permitted is Bovada, previously known as Bodog, which made its founder, Calvin Ayre, a billionaire.
This month, gaming regulators from Ohio and Louisiana have joined a growing list of state gaming agencies that have issued cease-and-desist letters to Bovada. Both the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board notified the online gaming site, which operates from its headquarters in Curacao.
Both Louisiana and Ohio host legal, regulated brick-and-mortar casinos, along with in-person and online sportsbooks, however, online casino games remain prohibited in these states.
Bovada Limits Operations
The recent directives issued by Louisiana and Ohio are part of a broader trend where numerous states have taken action against Bovada for allowing consumers access to its internet slots, table games, poker room, and sportsbook. Bovada claims to operate lawfully through its iGaming license from the Anjouan Gaming Board.
In conjunction with its gaming license, Bovada is also registered with the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority. However, US gaming regulators, industry leaders, and federal government lawmakers assert that these Anjouan licenses hold no legal authority in the United States.
States such as Ohio and Louisiana now join a long list of jurisdictions including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Washington, DC, and West Virginia in ordering Bovada to cancel player accounts registered within their borders.
According to Bovada, they have complied with nearly all cease-and-desist requests, with Louisiana being the only exception at this time. An official letter from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board was written to the company on August 6.
Bovada mentions that players with an account balance in states where it ceases operations should reach out to customer support to arrange their cryptocurrency withdrawal. This online platform favours cryptocurrency transactions, providing players with significant sign-up bonuses and promotions when using Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and various other digital currencies.
Unregulated Gaming Growth
Gambling in the US has expanded significantly in recent years. Following numerous new brick-and-mortar commercial casino approvals and the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision, which declared unconstitutional a federal law limiting single-game sports betting to Nevada, almost 40 states have legalized sports gambling. Legal iGaming has also emerged in seven states, with others considering the addition of online slot machines and table games.
With the legal gaming industry continuing its expansion into new markets, the American Gaming Association—a leading trade group that represents the interests of commercial and tribal gaming—urges the Department of Justice to enhance its crackdown on illegal offshore gaming operations.
The federal law enforcement agency asserts its commitment to addressing illegal online gambling and has been actively investigating and prosecuting unlawful internet gambling cases.
In summary, as state gaming regulators continue to push back against offshore gambling operations, players should remain cautious and informed about where they gamble online to ensure they are participating in regulated and safe environments.
