Bovada told to stop illegal gambling operations in Arizona

PHOENIX – Arizona gaming officials are taking action to stop Bovada from operating what they say are illegal gambling websites in the state.

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has accused the Curaçao-based company of being a criminal enterprise for three felony offenses: promotion of gambling, illegal control of an enterprise and money laundering.

“Arizona will not be a safe haven for unlicensed or unlawful gaming, nor will we allow unlawful entities to compromise the integrity of gaming within our state,” Gaming Director Jackie Johnson said in a press release Tuesday.

Sports betting has been legal in Arizona since September 2021, when a state law that authorized a wide-ranging expansion of gambling went into effect.

How is Arizona Department of Gaming taking action against Bovada?

Last month, the ADG sent Harp Media B.V., which operates Bovada, a cease-and-desist letter ordering it to stop making its gambling websites accessible in Arizona.

“We are actively monitoring the evolving landscape of online gaming, and taking proactive steps like this helps us protect Arizona’s communities and economy from illegal activities,” Johnson said.

The ADG cautioned Arizonans to limit their online gambling activities to authorized, regulated websites and apps, which provide consumer protections that don’t exist with illegal enterprises.

The department also has warned about scammers pretending to be affiliated with gaming organizations to steal personal information and money.

The ADG website has a list of all the state’s licensed event wagering operators.

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