Bovada Joins New Jersey Online Poker Exodus
Bovada, the US-facing arm of Bodog, announced this week that it would join other prominent US-facing online poker sites in restricting play from New Jersey, by no longer accepting new players from that jurisdiction. New Jersey gaming officials had recently targeted a half dozen large, US-based online poker affiliates, threatening legal action if links to offshore sites that attempt to serve New Jersey were not removed.
Existing players will be allowed to continue to play on their accounts. It is believed that the state-level exclusion also includes Bovada’s sportsbetting and casino offers, though that was not clarified in a letter sent to Bovada’s affiliates, a copy of which was obtained by FlushDraw.
New Jersey is one of three US states, to date, that have formally legalized intrastate online poker. Bovada’s gradual exit represents a clean sweep of the sites specifically mentioned in the late April cease-and-desist notice sent out by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), which along with the Merge, Winning and Equity poker networks, will no longer serve the state.
Here’s the announcement that confirmed Bovada’s exit from the New Jersey online poker market:
We’re writing to inform you that our partner brand Bovada.lv has recently added New Jersey to their list of restricted states that they no longer accept registrations from (other states include New York and Maryland).
New account registrations from New Jersey State residents will no longer be accepted, but existing account holders will not be affected.
Bovada.lv made this decision out of their own volition; however, they hope that their existing customers continue to enjoy all of the products and services their website has to offer.
All legitimate commission earnings for players that signed up prior to the restriction will continue to be paid as usual.
We thank you for your cooperation with regard to these changes and as always, should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your account representative or email us at (email address).
The statement confirms that the affected affiliates will continue to receive commissions from the period prior to the pullout, for those players that continue to offer action on those sites. The largest remaining offshore network that openly accepts New Jersey players is likely the Chico Poker Network, though of course New Jersey residents now have the major, formally regulated sites to play on that are offered via seven Atlantic City casinos.
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