The Michigan Gaming Control Board has issued a firm statement requiring Bovada, an offshore, unregulated sportsbook operating within the state, to cease operations. James Bisson

Last Updated: May 31, 2024 12:37 PM EDT • 2 min 26 sec read.Twitter linkGoogle News Link

The MGCB has taken bold action to ensure that it approves what companies can operate in the state’s legal gambling and real money online casinos market. Regulation, licensing, and taxation are the main cogs in the action. Any company not holding up its end of the bargain will be endangered in the Wolverine State market.

The government has forced Golden Hearts, a charitable sweepstakes casino, out of the market. Another massive nationwide sweepstakes casino VGW also vacated the Michigan market as did fantasy operator PrizePicks after scrutiny from the MGCB.

No mixed signals with Bovada

The Michigan Gaming Control Board made its intentions very clear with its latest effort against Bovada, sending it a cease-and-desist warning and giving the company 14 days to withdraw from the Michigan scene. Plenty of legal, regulated Michigan sports betting apps are available for residents.

“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. “The MGCB remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding Michigan’s laws and regulations and will continue to actively monitor and enforce compliance within the state to ensure a fair and secure gaming environment for all.”

Is action needed on a national scale?

Unregulated, unlicensed, offshore sportsbooks are not a new problem in the American market, and efforts to stop them from doing business in America have not succeeded.

In April 2022, The American Gaming Association sent a letter to U.S.Attorney General Merrick Garland calling for the end to such illegal sites and pointing out a “vast illegal sports betting market” that exists in America from offshore sites.

AGA President brought receipts saying that “Nationwide internet searches for offshore sportsbook brands increased 38% last year, faster than the search growth for legal U.S. operators, and searches for offshore brands represented a majority of all sportsbook searches. Bovada alone accounts for 50% of all searches.”

The American Gaming Association has aggressively pushed to see the end of illegal, unregulated, unlicensed operators taking Americans’ bets since the 2018 Supreme Court decision to overturn its blanket ban on sports betting. Not a whole lot has been done on a national scale so far.

However, 13 years ago, during what is called Black Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice was able to cease the operations of three of the biggest online poker sites operating in America; all were offshore companies.

Individual leagues, such as the NFL last summer, have also signaled publicly, through pressure campaigns with lawmakers, their desire to end the presence of offshore operators from working on American soil.

Michigan lawmakers have started something that can be finished on a National scale. Brandt Iden, current VP of government affairs for Fanatics Betting and Gaming, a former lawmaker, praised Michigan’s move to expel Bovada, saying that Michigan is “a leader in the online gaming industry and today showcases that leadership.”

Sports Betting Advertising Take Center Stage in Canadian Senate

by James Bisson yesterday

Flutter Entertainment Makes TIME Magazine Most Influential Companies List

by James Bisson yesterday

Illinois Progressive Sports Betting Tax Signed Into Law

by James Bisson 2 days ago

Family Ties: 5 Fathers and Children Who Competed Together

by James Bisson 2 days ago

bet365 and Incentive Games Team Up to Release Predictor Games for Euro and Copa

by Andrew Reid 2 days ago

Mizuhara Enters Guilty Plea in Gambling Case

by Sean Tomlinson 3 days ago

This site only collects related articles. Viewing the original, please copy and open the following link:Michigan Gaming Control Board Puts the Screws to Bovada