Massachusetts Attorney General Cracks Down on Illegal Gaming

• The Massachusetts Attorney General announced two cease-and-desist notices for illegal gaming operations in the state
• The attorney general issued cease-and-desist operations to BetOnline.ag and Sportsbetting.ag
• Both offshore operators are not licensed to do business in the commonwealth

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office is cracking down on illegal gaming in the commonwealth.

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office announced it has issued two cease-and-desist letters to online gambling operators BetOnline.ag and Sportsbetting.ag, both unlicensed, offshore gaming operators.

Both operators offer online gambling and betting products in the state that require proper licensure from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Operating Illegal Massachusetts Gambling

According to the cease-and-desist letter, BetOnline.ag and Sportsbetting.ag operate online gambling platforms in the commonwealth that include casino-style games, such as slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker, as well as sports betting on most U.S. events and horse races.

Neither of the companies are properly licensed in Massachusetts.

The Attorney General’s Office claims that both companies actively promote their services to Massachusetts residents, despite being illegal, using marketing tactics the depict professional athletes, teams, and collaborations with U.S. sports and entertainment-related content creators.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Louisa Castrucci of the AGO’s Gaming Enforcement Division. The work of the AGO’s Gaming Enforcement Division, including on this matter, is funded in part by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. 

Second Round of Cease-and-Desist Notices

Just this past October, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office issued a cease-and-desist letter to Harp Media B.V. and Hove Media, collectively known as Bovada. According to the letter, Bovada operates an illegal sports betting and gambling website without a license in the Commonwealth.

The attorney general’s office claimed Bovada is in violation of state consumer protection laws.

According to the cease-and-desist notice, Bovada is violating state gaming and sports betting laws by portraying itself to Massachusetts residents as a “USA-based” gambling operator, inducing Commonwealth consumers to participate in illegal and unregulated forms of gambling.

“Since 2011, Bovada has presented itself as a legitimate American gambling operator, but without any proper Massachusetts license. Unlicensed operators pose a substantial danger to consumers because they do not go through the same rigorous review as licensed operators, have limited or no protections against gambling addiction and underage play, and do not provide consumers with reliable access to their funds since most unlicensed operators are offshore,” the Attorney General’s Office noted in a press release.

Bovada has since included Massachusetts on its prohibited states list.