A Canadian court has ordered Bodog, an offshore sportsbook based in Antigua and Barbuda, to stop operating in Manitoba. The ruling, issued by the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba, stems from a legal challenge brought by the government-run Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corp. (MBLL), which claims Bodog has been acting illegally in the province.
Good to know
- Bodog is banned from advertising or offering services to users in Manitoba.
- The court order demands geo-blocking to stop Manitobans from accessing Bodog’s websites.
- Bodog already restricts access in Quebec and Nova Scotia.
The injunction requires Bodog and its related entities to cut off all access for users in Manitoba, stop promoting its platforms in the province, and implement geo-blocking. MBLL argued that Bodog’s presence was drawing customers away from PlayNow, the only authorized iGaming site in Manitoba.
The court stated clearly that Bodog has “no lawful authority” to offer or promote online gambling in Manitoba and labeled its representations as “legitimate, lawful, ‘safe’, or ‘trusted’” as false and misleading under Canadian law.
The order also noted that no representatives from Bodog or its affiliates, Il Nido Ltd. and Sanctum IP Holdings Ltd., appeared in court, despite being served legal notice.
This legal action is part of a larger campaign by Canadian regulators to curb offshore operators that continue to tap into local markets despite not being provincially regulated. Except for Ontario, much of Canada’s online gambling takes place in a so-called “grey market,” where foreign-run platforms operate without local approval.
Bodog has already exited other provinces like Nova Scotia and Quebec. Still, concerns remain. In May, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) criticized Bodog for advertising to Ontarians through both traditional and digital media channels, even after pulling out of other provinces.
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