Bovada fined $50,000 in Tennessee for illegal gambling

Tennessee’s sports betting regulator has fined Bovada $50,000 for operating an illegal sportsbook in the state.

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council said the controversial sports betting site had failed to comply with cease-and-desist letters delivered to addresses in Curaçao.

Council investigators were also able to place bets through Bovada’s platform on three separate occasions, including as recently as 16 October.

It follows several states sending cease-and-desist letters to the Costa Rica-based operator in 2024, leading to market exits.

The regulator’s executive director Mary Beth Thomas said: “The Sports Wagering Council recommends that Tennessee users of Bovada withdraw their funds immediately.

“Our primary role is the protection of the public interest through a safe, regulated environment, and Tennessee sports bettors need to know that just because they can access a sports betting website or app inside Tennessee’s borders does not mean it is licensed to do business here.”

Bovada fined under Sports Gaming Act

The state’s Sports Gaming Act authorises the Council to impose a $10,000 fine for the first offense of accepting bets without a licence, rising to $15,000 and $25,000 for the second and third offenses respectively.

In the cease-and-desist letters, the Council ordered the Harp Media B.V.-operated brand to allow Tennessee players to withdraw any funds currently held.

The regulator said it is also working with its network of law enforcement at the state and federal level to eradicate illegal sportsbooks such as Bovada.

According to a 2022 study commissioned by the American Gaming Association, US citizens wager close to $64bn annually with unlicensed online sportsbooks.

The same year, the trade association called for the Department of Justice to investigate and indict offshore online operators like Bovada targeting US consumers.

Bovada’s list of restricted states now numbers 15 following the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office’s decision to send a cease-and-desist letter to the company.

As of today (25 October), Bovada’s online list of restricted states does not include Tennessee.

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