The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC) issued three fines totaling $50,000 to Bovada.lv for accepting bets without a license.

The SWC had previously sent cease and desist letters to the address of the online sports betting provider in Curacao. SWC investigators were then able to place bets on Bovada's platform on three different dates, including a bet on October 16th.

Tennessee's Sports Gaming Act allows the council to impose a $10,000 fine for the first offense of accepting a bet without a license. A fine for a second offense is $25,000. A third violation – and all subsequent violations – each carry a $25,000 fine. Although Bovada has already issued fines of $50,000, the amount could increase with further operations.

Bovada had flown under the radar screen for years, offering its online services across America. Only recently have states begun cracking down on unlicensed operators like Bovada.

So far, Bovada has quickly complied with cease-and-desist notices. Massachusetts sent Bovada a cease-and-desist order on October 3, and the Bay State is already on the blacklist. The same was true in Louisiana, West Virginia, Ohio, Colorado and Michigan. Currently, 14 states and the District of Columbia are on Bovada's blocked list.

However, Bovada still hasn't limited Tennessee. It's unclear why Bovada hasn't yet complied with Tennessee's demands – or why the country may face even steeper fines.

In the meantime, the SWC is warning Bovada sports betting customers in Tennessee to withdraw their money from unlicensed sportsbooks as quickly as possible. The council also draws the public's attention to the risks of illegal providers. Illegal websites have no legal obligation to protect financial and personal information. And if their money disappears or is withheld from an unlicensed operator, bettors may have no legal recourse.

“The Sports Wagering Council recommends that Tennessee users of Bovada withdraw their funds immediately,” said Mary Beth Thomas, executive director of SWC. “Our primary mission is to protect the public interest through a safe, regulated environment, and Tennessee sports bettors need to know that accessing a sports betting website or app within Tennessee’s borders does not mean the business is licensed “To do business here.”

Like other state regulators, the Tennessee SWC works closely with state and federal law enforcement to curb illegal sports betting operators.

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