Short version. Bovada does not accept players from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Washington DC.
| Bovada does not accept (17 states and DC) |
|---|
| Arizona |
| Colorado |
| Connecticut |
| Delaware |
| Kansas |
| Louisiana |
| Maryland |
| Massachusetts |
| Michigan |
| Nevada |
| New Hampshire |
| New Jersey |
| New York |
| Ohio |
| Pennsylvania |
| Tennessee |
| Washington DC |
| West Virginia |
How a state gets added
The pattern has been the same each time. A state gaming regulator or attorney general sends Bovada's operator a cease-and-desist letter. Bovada does not acknowledge it. Some weeks later the state quietly appears on the restricted list in Bovada's help pages.
The timeline
- Before 2024: Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Delaware were already blocked.
- Mid 2024: Michigan and Colorado, then West Virginia, then Connecticut and Washington, DC at the end of July, then Ohio.
- September 2024: Kansas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was listed as of September 17.
- Autumn 2024: Massachusetts, 19 days after its attorney general's letter, and Tennessee, where the regulator also fined Bovada $50,000.
- After that: Arizona, following a letter dated November 8, 2024, and New Hampshire.
If your state is added
When Bovada left earlier states it told customers their accounts were closing and balances would be returned, and its site said players in restricted states could withdraw only as cryptocurrency. Some players in blocked states have reported still being able to log in, so enforcement is uneven. Do not count on that.
What to do instead
Ignition is the same poker room and blocks only five states. Your state page lists every room that takes sign-ups where you live.
Common questions
How many states does Bovada restrict?
Seventeen states and Washington, DC.
Why did Bovada leave my state?
In most cases a state regulator sent a cease-and-desist letter and Bovada added the state to its restricted list without comment.
Can I still withdraw if my state is restricted?
Bovada has said players in restricted states can withdraw remaining funds as cryptocurrency.
Is Ignition restricted in the same states?
No. Ignition is the same poker network and blocks five states: Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York.