Bovada is prohibited in 11 U.S. markets and Louisiana is pushing to be the next

On August 6, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) issued a cease-and-desist letter letter to illegal gambling operator, Bovada. The chief Louisiana sports betting regulator is the latest state-level official to try and push Bovada out of the market. At an LGCB meeting on August 15, Chairman Chirs Herbert spoke about what the state has been doing to prohibit Bovada from continuing to operate. Bovada is an illegal gambling operator that is stealing business from legal markets in Louisiana. They’ve accomplished this through mobile applications and websites with online casinos. Louisiana is not the only state that has tried to restrict Bovada’s access. Michigan and Connecticut are two operators who have successfully prohibited Bovada from their respective states. Chris Herbert had this to say.

“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,” said Herbert

What other states have prohibited Bovada’s access?

Along with Louisiana, the Ohio Casino Control Commission cease and desist letter was sent on August 6. Now, Bovada’s illegal operation is prohibited in Ohio. Earlier this year, Michigan was the first state to send a cease and desist letter, followed by several others. States that have not permitted Bovada’s access are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. Louisiana is looking to become the 12th state that restricts Bovada from operating. According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), they estimate that Americans illegally wager around $500 million on off-shore websites. 

The AGA has asked U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to help find the illegal operators in America. In 2023, Louisiana was one of several states that asked the U.S. Department of Justice for their assistance. States with a legal gambling market want to crack down on the off-shore sites and get them prohibited. Earlier this summer, Ronnie Johns retired as the LGCB chairman. Chris Herbert was appointed to the position by Governor Jeff Landry. Herbert is doing what he can to ensure the sports betting market in his state is all done legally.