A new CBC report details an expanded effort from Manitoba to push offshore gambling site Bodog out of the province. According to the Canadian public broadcaster, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries wants an injunction to stop Bodog from operating and advertising within the province, with other Canadian gaming agencies seeking a precedent-setting ruling against illegal online gambling.
"Bodog's illegal activities are diverting customers in Manitoba away from MBLL's legitimate operations," MBLL said, referencing PlayNow.com, its online gaming platform. "Significant revenue that would otherwise be generated by MBLL has been diverted to Bodog."
Per Manitoba court filings, the Crown corporation alleges Bodog, under both its bodog.eu site and “free play” bodog.net are breaking the law by offering services in a province that exclusively provides MBLL with gambling and iGaming authorities.
"There's really two particular goals here," said Will Hill, who serves as executive director of a coalition of gaming corporations across B.C., Saskatchewan, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, and Manitoba. "One, securing an injunction against an illegal operator within Manitoba, but two, validating the coalition's general position on illegal gambling more broadly."
Among the allegations, Bodog is accused of promoting its platform through content featuring Canadian teams and players, as well as promotion through “material false and misleading statements,” emphasizing the illegality and illegitimacy of its presence in Manitoba and across Canada.
Bodog, other offshore sites face crackdowns
This latest development out of the Keystone Province is far from a one-off isolated attempt to push offshore sites like Bodog out of the picture.
Back in October, the company abruptly left Nova Scotia, with little clarity as to what caused the move. There was speculation about the province restricting offshore gambling markets. Bodog is based in Antigua and Barbuda.
Crackdowns south of the border are also swift and ongoing, with offshore companies such as Bovada facing cease-and-desist letters across numerous U.S. states. They're also getting pricey fines within the last year following continued battles since broad legalization came about in the late 2010s.
“We are actively monitoring the evolving landscape of online gaming and taking proactive steps like this helps us protect Arizona’s communities and economy from illegal activities,”Jackie Johnson, director of the Arizona Department of Gaming said back in December 2024.
“Our enforcement team is committed to preventing unauthorized operations from establishing a foothold here. Arizona will not be a safe haven for unlicensed or unlawful gaming, nor will we allow unlawful entities to compromise the integrity of gaming within our state.”
