Manitoba Court Bans Bodog

A Manitoba judge has slammed the door on Bodog’s offshore casino and sportsbook.

The court found the brand misled players with “trusted” claims while skirting provincial law.

Legal platforms like PlayNow now stand to reclaim millions in lost wagers.

Operators must tighten geo-blocks and licensing, or risk bans and six-figure fines.

Bodog Kicked Out of Manitoba: Landmark Ruling Signals Canada-Wide War on Grey-Market Casinos

Key Points

• Manitoba issued a permanent injunction forcing Bodog to exit and cease all advertising.
• The ruling empowers other provinces, while Ontario’s AGCO just warned media to drop Bodog ads.
• PlayNow remains Manitoba’s only legal site, backed by strict consumer-protection controls.

Manitoba’s decisive verdict

Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench granted a permanent injunction on 27 May 2025 against Antigua-based Il Nido Ltd. and Sanctum IP Holdings, owners of bodog.eu and bodog.net. The judge ruled their marketing as “safe” and “legal” falsely portrayed legitimacy and likely misled gamblers.

Consequently, Bodog must deploy robust geo-blocking and stop every form of promotion aimed at Manitobans, whether online, on TV, or inside arenas. Violations would trigger contempt penalties.

Coalition strategy pays off

The Canadian Lottery Coalition—representing Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Quebec—funded the action. Members argued Bodog siphoned players from provincially run portals that return profits to healthcare, education, and charities. The court accepted that view, calling the messaging “a false description.”

PlayNow regains home-ice advantage

PlayNow.com, owned by Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, is the province’s sole legal gambling site. It offers certified casino, lottery, and single-event sports betting under strict GameSense safeguards. The injunction clears a crowded field, allowing PlayNow to reclaim market share and reinforce responsible-gaming tools.

Ontario piles on pressure

While Manitoba fought in court, Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) issued letters to more than a dozen broadcasters on 15 May 2025. The regulator told them to yank ads for Bodog and other unregistered brands that “lend a veneer of legitimacy” to illegal gambling.

Ontario’s iGaming framework demands every operator sign with iGaming Ontario and undergo rigorous testing. Bodog has not applied, yet its commercials still air during prime-time sports. AGCO warned that continued promotion risks enforcement against media outlets themselves.

Bodog’s offshore playbook unravels

Founded by Canadian entrepreneur Calvin Ayre in 1994, Bodog grew by targeting grey markets worldwide. It later spawned Bovada for U.S. bettors, drawing multiple cease-and-desist orders south of the border. The Manitoba judgment now threatens its Canadian lifeline, and other provinces may follow with similar suits.

What the decision means nationwide

First, it sets precedent: provincial lotteries can sue under deceptive-marketing and common-law principles, even without new federal statutes. Second, it underscores the power of injunctions over partial ISP blocks. Third, it emboldens regulators like AGCO to leverage media-control tactics alongside court actions.

Consequently, grey-market brands face a pincer movement—legal writs in one province, advertising bans in another. Industry lawyers predict rapid consolidation toward locally licensed models by 2026.

Compliance checklist for offshore operators

1. Audit market access. Verify no Canadian IP addresses slip through VPN or DNS leaks.
2. Remove misleading claims. Delete “trusted” or “legal” tags unless backed by provincial licences.
3. Pause national ad buys. Media placements now carry regulatory risk; negotiate make-goods.
4. Engage regulators early. Ontario’s door remains open for registration; Manitoba may follow suit.
5. Emphasise RG tools. Provinces prioritise player-safety features when granting approvals.

The Manitoba injunction against Bodog signals the toughest stance yet against offshore gambling in Canada. Combined with Ontario’s media crackdown, the ruling warns every unlicensed brand to either join the regulated system or face expulsion. For players, that means clearer choices; for operators, it means time to pick a side—compliance or exile.

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