The gambling authority of Michigan, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), has decided to take an action against Harp Media B.V., the owner of Bovada.com and Bovada.lv. After the MGCB investigation, the institution sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company, which means that Bovada should stop operating in Michigan 14 days after the 29th of May.
“The proliferation of online gaming platforms has led to increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies worldwide, and this action serves as a stern warning to overseas companies that flouting local regulations will not be tolerated,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams.
What was the problem with Bovada in Michigan?
Harp Media B.V., the company behind Bovada, owns a license to operate from Curaçao. That makes it an offshore casino for U.S. players. However, fact that is has a the Curaçao license does not allow it to provide services to U.S. players (there are other excluded countries, too).
After the investigation, the Michigan Gaming Control Board has determined that the company has three violations:
- It violated the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, meaning the company has operated without a valid license for Michigan.
- Harp Media B.V. violated the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, which means that the offender is guilty of a felony and can be punished with up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.
- It violated the Michigan Penal Code, which prohibits gambling with consideration, prize, or chance and is outside of the previously mentioned above.
What will happen to Bovada in other U.S. states?
As you can imagine, the same can follow in each state. Since Harp Media B.V. doesn’t have a valid license in any U.S. states, it can’t legally operate in the U.S. market. There are two options:
- Bovada gets a license or licenses and starts operating legally in one or more U.S. states. This will be the best option for both the company and the U.S. players who were using the online casino. It will regulate the casino and keep it safe for the users.
- Bovada will completely disappear from the U.S. market. It will still be accessible from other countries, but U.S. players won’t be able to play on it.
What do we recommend?
If you are in doubt, you can always contact your local gambling regulator to check if a particular app or site has a valid license. In Michigan, it is the MGCB.
If you are a U.S. citizen with a Bovada account, withdraw your money in the following days and stop playing on the site until there are more developments on the topic.
Gamezinger.com recommends you play on licensed sites only. First, check if the casino is legal in your country or state and if it is safe to play before registering. We create online casino reviews all the time and often update our list of the best gambling sites. You can check our suggestions if you want to find a good site to play. We also recommend reading more about online gambling in Michigan to be sure what is legal.