Pennsylvania online gamblers learned on Sept. 17 that they were no longer able to bet on online casino, poker, esports, and sports on the illegal offshore site, Bovada. That’s because the commonwealth joined the site’s list of 14 “restricted” jurisdictions, which leaves Rhode Island as the lone iGaming state not yet barred.
That may mean those bettors migrate to the legal Pennsylvania online casinos and poker rooms. It’s possible the No. 1 iGaming revenue state will see even higher gross gaming revenue (GGR) as a result. In July 2024, Pennsylvania iGaming generated $215.4 million in GGR. In August, it was $225 million.
Bovada is now blocking gamblers from the following jusrisdictions. Those in bold are states with legal iGaming.
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Colombia
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
In June, Bovada banned online bettors in five states from wagering on its app. Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey were already among the restricted states.
That month, state gambling regulators began targeting Bovada’s owner, Curaçao-based Harp Media, with “cease and desist” letters. They warned Harp that the company faced criminal and civil penalties and, if the site didn’t stop serving the state’s bettors, courts would become involved.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) sent a C&D letter.
PGCB Communications Director Doug Harbach explained to Bonus on Aug. 26 that the PGCB held powers as a regulator, but wasn’t the entity enforcing the law.
On Sept. 17, PGCB spokesman Richard McGarvey told Bonus a different branch sent Harp the C&D letter:
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel did send Bovada a cease and desist letter at the end of August. Because the letter came from the Board’s investigative unit, it is consider[ed] confidential.
Bovada Ousted From Louisiana as It Considers iGaming
For now, eight states offer iGaming:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- Nevada (online poker only)
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
Ohio lawmakers may introduce an online casino bill in 2025. If they do, they may also follow the recommendations of committee members who studied the matter in 2024. (SB312 hasn’t moved since Sept. 4, when state Sen. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, introduced it.)
New Yorkers will also see a 2025 iGaming and iLottery bill.
Next month, Louisiana lawmakers will meet to consider legalizing iGaming. However, while Judiciary B and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Senate committees meet jointly to discuss the matter, they’ll know that their regulator already ousted Bovada from the state.
That’s because, on Aug. 6, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) sent Harp a certified C&D letter stating, in part:
Louisiana law provides, ‘[whoever conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs, or owns all or part of an illegal gambling business shall be fined not more than twenty thousand dollars, or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years, or both …’
On Aug. 30, when LGCB Confidential Assistant Lisha C. Landry emailed Bonus the C&D letter to fulfill a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, she said Harp hadn’t confirmed receipt.
On Aug. 15, LGCB Chairman Christopher Hebert said during the body’s meeting:
It is my sincere hope that Louisiana will join that 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 US betting market. Not to mention the lack of protections for our citizens in the area of responsible gaming or any contributions toward economic development for the state of Louisiana.
UPDATE: 09/23/2024
Landry emailed Bonus another statement from Hebert on Sept. 20:
Bovada’s adherence to our cease-and-desist order not only reflects our resolve to force compliance with Louisiana’s gaming regulations, but also reinforces our ongoing efforts to safeguard our residents from illegal gambling operations. The LGCB remains dedicated to promoting a secure and regulated gaming environment in Louisiana.
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