Manitoba court stands by Bodog ban
A court in the Canadian province of Manitoba has issued a written explanation of its 26 May decision to ban the gambling platform Bodog from operating in the province.
Justice Jeffrey Harris of the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba, who initially made the decision, explained that he ruled that Bodog, which is operated by overseas companies Il Nido and Sanctum IP Holdings, has no legal authority to take bets in Manitoba.
His decision goes on to state that the site misleads visitors into believing that it is offering gambling services lawfully when they are in violation of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Justice Harris accepted evidence indicating that Bodog advertising contains false claims, operates without regulatory Canadian scrutiny, and doesn’t adhere to statutory obligations, including responsible gambling protocols, taxes, and anti-money laundering practices.
The case was initiated by Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, which was representing a group of regulated gambling operators called the Canadian Lottery Coalition. The original ruling stated that Bodog must introduce geo-blocking technology to stop Manitobans from using its site.
The President and Chief Executive of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, Gerry Sul, said that he welcomed the full explanation of the decision and added that Bodog’s operations have caused significant harm.
His concerns about the rise of illegal offshore gambling sites were echoed by Pat Davis, the Chief Executive of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Davis pointed out that these sites offered no protection for players and drained funds away from public services.
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
