- Bovada has added New Hampshire to its list of restricted states
- The unregulated gaming company restricts access to 17 states and Washington, D.C.
- It’s unknown if New Hampshire sent the company a cease-and-desist notice
Live free or die…unless you want to use Bovada in New Hampshire.
The unregulated gaming company officially added the Granite State to its restricted list, now blocking access in 17 states across the country, as well as Washington, D.C.
The New Hampshire Lottery Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to the unregulated gaming operator on Dec. 12, 2024.
Assistant Attorney General Signs Cease-and-Desist Letter
The New Hampshire Lottery Commission cease-and-desist letter was co-signed by Chief Compliance Officer Cooley A. Arroyo, Esq., and Assistant Attorney General Mark W. Dell’Orfano. It orders Bovada to immediate cease and desist its services to New Hampshire residents and refund all state users.
“Online sports betting is legal per RSA 287-I:3, but may only be conducted by the commission through agents selected by a competitive bid process and approved by the governor and executive council. As Bovada is not an authorized agent, its conducting of sports betting with New Hampshire residents is clearly in violation of state law,” the two wrote in the letter.
Harp Media B.V., which operates the Curaçao-based company, did not acknowledge receipt of the letter, but eventually added New Hampshire to its restricted access list more than a month after the letter was sent.
Bovada has never once directly acknowledged receipt of a cease-and-desist letter from any state commission or regulator, but will usually abide by the request to add the market to its restricted access list.
New Hampshire has only one licensed sports betting operator, DraftKings, and does not authorize iGaming of any kind in the state.
“Online casino or ‘igaming’ is not authorized in New Hampshire, and there is no legal path for the licensure or operation of such a business. Accordingly, Bovada’s offering of “real money” online casino offerings including table games, slots and poker is clearly in contravention of New Hampshire law,” the authors wrote.
Bovada Restricting Access in 18 Markets
New Hampshire is the latest market to be restricted in the U.S. by Bovada.
Several state regulatory gaming bodies have issued cease-and-desist letters to Bovada over the course of the last year, ordering the offshore gaming company out of their markets. Bovada has mostly agreed to these notices, restricting access to 17 states and Washington, D.C.
The restricted U.S. markets are as follows:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
Bovada, one of the leading online gambling and sports betting platforms, has recently implemented access restrictions for users in New Hampshire. This move comes as a response to new regulations put in place by the state government, aimed at tightening control over online gambling activities.
The restrictions put in place by Bovada will affect users in New Hampshire who are trying to access their platform from within the state borders. This means that residents of New Hampshire will no longer be able to place bets or participate in any form of online gambling through Bovada.
The decision to implement these access restrictions is likely a result of Bovada wanting to comply with the new regulations set forth by the state government. By restricting access to users in New Hampshire, Bovada is ensuring that they are operating within the legal boundaries of the state and avoiding any potential legal issues that may arise from non-compliance.
While this may come as a disappointment to some users in New Hampshire who have been enjoying the services offered by Bovada, it is important to understand that these restrictions are being put in place for regulatory reasons. It is always important for online gambling platforms to operate within the legal framework of the jurisdictions in which they operate, and Bovada is simply taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the laws of New Hampshire.
For users in New Hampshire who are looking for alternative online gambling options, there are still plenty of other platforms available that are operating within the legal boundaries of the state. It is always recommended to do thorough research and ensure that any online gambling platform you choose to use is licensed and regulated by the appropriate authorities.
In conclusion, Bovada’s decision to implement access restrictions for users in New Hampshire is a proactive move to ensure compliance with the state’s regulations on online gambling. While this may be disappointing for some users, it is ultimately in the best interest of both Bovada and the state of New Hampshire to operate within the legal boundaries set forth by the government.
