Harp Media, which runs Bovada, one of the largest offshore sportsbooks and online casino platforms available to United States bettors, appears to be complying with a cease-and-desist order issued by the Ohio Casino Control Commission earlier this month.
The OCCC confirmed it sent a letter to the Curaçao-based gaming company on Aug. 6, informing Harp Media that such wagering through Bovada was illegal and in violation of state laws. It gave Bovada until Aug. 16 to notify the commission in writing that it was complying with the cease-and-desist order.
In its FAQ section, the Curaçao-based gaming platform has Ohio among a list of states where it no longer conducts business. That list also includes Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Michigan, Delaware, Colorado and the District of Columbia. Bovada’s FAQ also directs bettors who have a balance in those restricted states to contact their customer service department for more information or to make a withdrawal via cryptocurrency.
Bovada's U.S. Footprint Continues to Shrink
Ohio's cease-and-desist letter to Harp Media is at least the second sent by a state agency to the gaming company in as many months, with the Michigan Gaming Control Board doing so in July. It is believed Connecticut also sent a similar letter last month. Ohio is a top-10 market for sports betting in the United States, having generated $11.8 billion handle in the first 18 months of wagering after launching on New Year's Day last year. That includes $4.1 billion through the first six months of 2024 as state tax revenue has totaled $87.6 million.
There has been talk that the Buckeye State is considering expanding into internet casino gaming, which makes sense given that neighboring states — Michigan and Pennsylvania — have generated almost $600 million in state tax revenue through iGaming for the first seven months of the calendar year. The Ohio state legislature released its “Study Commission on the Future of Gaming in Ohio" last month, but there was no clear consensus if there would be an undertaking to expand online gaming offerings.
Five of the seven states that currently offer internet casino gaming in the U.S. are among the 11 on Bovada's restricted list, with Pennsylvania and Rhode Island not listed. The latter was the most recent to launch in March through Bally's.
