Gray-market online site Bovada has quickly withdrawn its services from Arizona after the state’s Department of Gaming (ADG) served the Curacao-domiciled platform with a cease-and-desist notice and allegations of three gambling business-related felonies.
Arizona officials sent the C&D in early November to Bovada’s listed parent entity, Harp Media B.V., and Bovada complied, blocking access to its Bovada.com and Bovada.lv sites. The withdrawal covers all of Bovada’s online gambling services, including online poker, casino games including slots, and online sportsbetting.
In departing Arizona, Bovada has now exited fully one third of the US’s 51 state-level jurisdictions. Sixteen states, including Arizona, and the District of Columbia now comprise Bovada’s no-go list. Bovada has withdrawn from at least seven states during 2024 in the face of increasing state-level pressure.
Arizona DOG: Bovada a ‘felony criminal enterprise’
In a press statement about Bovada’s exit from the Grand Canyon State, the Arizona Department of Gaming declared Bovada a “felony criminal enterprise” that “has been directed to desist from any future illegal gambling operations or activities of any type in Arizona.” The state’s notice to Bovada included reference to three alleged felonies:
- Promotion of Gambling — Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-3303.
- Illegal Control of an Enterprise — Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-2312.
- Money Laundering — Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-2317.
“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,” said Jackie Johnson, the ADG’s director. “Our enforcement team is committed to preventing unauthorized operations from establishing a foothold here. Arizona will not be a safe haven for unlicensed or unlawful gaming, nor will we allow unlawful entities to compromise the integrity of gaming within our state.”