(The Center Square) – The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council fined a sportsbook $50,000 for operating illegally.
The council also encouraged anyone using Bovada to withdraw their funds immediately.
The council sent Bovada cease and desist letters to a Curaçao address but did not receive a response. Bovada was told in the letters to allow Tennessee bettors to withdraw their funds.
Investigators placed bets using Bovada just a week ago, according to a news release from the council.
“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,” said the council’s executive director, Mary Beth Thomas.
Bettors are at risk of losing their money or having it withheld when dealing with an unlicensed sportsbook, according to the council. Individuals may not protect their information and could share it, according to the council.
The council can impose a $10,000 fine on companies that accept wagers without a license. The fine increases to $15,000 for a second offense and $25,000 for a third offense. The council can fine $25,000 per occurrence under the Sports Gaming Act, which is a single Tennessee wager, according to the council.
Tennessee is not the first state to send a cease and desist order. The Massachusetts Attorney General issued an order to Bovada earlier this month. The company has presented itself as a “legitimate American gambling operator, but without any proper Massachusetts license,” the office said in a news release.
Kansas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania have also sent the company cease and desist letters, according to sportsbettingdime.com. Bovada has restricted betting in 14 states, the article said.
The Center Square was unsuccessful obtaining comment from Bovada.
