Breaking Gambling Laws
The Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) has issued an injunction application to stop Bodog, an unlicensed casino operator, from providing its services in the province. This has been done on behalf of the Canadian Lottery Coalition (CLL), with a court date scheduled for March 5th.
The court filing states that Bodog, which operates a free-to-play and real-money site, has been violating MBLL’s authority by offering its services in the province. PlayNow.com, which is owned and operated by the MBLL, is the only operator currently licensed to provide any online gambling services in Manitoba.
The case has argued that Bodog has been using misleading marketing terms across Canada to persuade players that it is offering legal services. It also argues that the purpose of the free-to-play site Bodog.eu is to convert players into real-money players on the Bodog.net platform.
The CLCC believes the operator is violating the federal Criminal Code, Trademarks Act and Competition laws. CLC also states that it had previously contacted the operator in 2023 but that it has persisted with its activities.
A Questionable History in Canada
This is not the first time that Bodog has come under fire in Canada. The operator is closely linked with Bovada, which has found itself in several regulatory fall-outs in both Canada and the United States.
The Bodog site claims that it accepts all players from across Canada except for those in Quebec and Nova Scotia. This statement implies that players in other provinces can sign up to play, which is not the case. In Ontario, for example, an operator has to hold a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which Bodog does not.
The CLC has taken a strong stand on these issues, with Executive Director Will Hill hoping that this case will set a strong precedent against future illegal operators. He said that licensees are dealing with hundreds of illegal operators, describing their quest to take them down as a ‘noble pursuit’.
