Bovada Licenses & Seals of Approval. Is Your Data Safe?

The regulation of online betting operators is of crucial importance for their customers. When a gambling website is granted a licence and overseen by a commission, this is a guarantee that the site is fair and honours its bets by paying out promptly. Equally importantly, if the customer has any cause for complaint, the governing commission can investigate impartially and, if necessary, ensure money is paid out.

Licenses and Seals of Approval Held by Bovada

The headquarters of Bovada is located in the Mohawk territory, Kahnawake (a sovereign Indian Reservation) in Canada. Until September 2016 the betting operator used to hold a licence from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. However, Bovada voluntarily gave up their gaming licence in protest against a change of policy by the Commission. This was instigated by the New Jersey DGE (Division of Gambling Enforcement) and concerned a challenge about the legality of offshore online betting platforms. As a result, an official licence of Bovada no longer exists, and this means it is no longer regulated and overseen by a commission. This fact should be balanced against its long-standing experience in the market and the fact that it continues to abide by the standards set by its former regulatory body.

Where Bovada Operates Legally

Bovada operates legally in Canada and most American states with the exception of Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Louisiana, New Jersey and New York. Gambling is regulated in the US on a state – rather than – federal level, and these states have passed regulations that stipulate only state-licensed online bookmakers are allowed to operate. Although the federal Wire Act forbids operators from accepting sports bets, Bovada operators are Canadian nationals so they aren’t breaking the law. The UIGEA federal law can prevent some financial transactions relating to gambling going through banks. However, Bovada offers a number of deposit and withdrawal methods so this isn’t a problem for their customers.