Canada: Manitoba seeks court order to block offshore gambling site Bodog

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) has filed a legal challenge against offshore gambling operator Bodog, seeking to prevent the company from offering services in the province. The Crown corporation submitted an injunction to the Manitoba Court of King's Bench, arguing that Bodog’s operations violate provincial gaming laws and divert revenue from the province’s legal gambling platform, PlayNow.com.

The filing alleges that Bodog.eu and its associated free-play site, Bodog.net, operate illegally in Manitoba, where MBLL has sole authority over gambling activities. “Bodog's illegal activities are diverting customers in Manitoba away from MBLL's legitimate operations,” the application states, adding that significant revenue has been lost to the offshore site.

The injunction was filed on behalf of the Canadian Lottery Coalition, a group of provincial gaming agencies from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, and Manitoba. The coalition was formed in 2022 to address the growing influence of offshore gambling operators targeting Canadian players.

Coalition Executive Director Will Hill described the injunction as a critical step in addressing illegal gambling across Canada. “There's really two particular goals here,” Hill said. “One, securing an injunction against an illegal operator within Manitoba, but two, validating the coalition's general position on illegal gambling more broadly.”

Hill hopes the case will set a legal precedent that strengthens enforcement efforts against offshore operators in other provinces. “They're forced to deal with hundreds of illegal operators,” he said, complicating what he called "a really noble pursuit," as the provincial lottery corporations are set up to return 100 percent of their proceeds to their provinces to benefit provincial priorities.

Bodog allows Canadian users to place bets on sports and casino games such as poker and blackjack. A digital forensic analyst’s affidavit, submitted with the court application, states that Bodog actively promotes its services in Canada, including advertisements featuring Canadian sports teams and players.

The application also alleges that Bodog misrepresents itself as a lawful, safe, and trusted platform, despite lacking regulatory approval in Manitoba. According to MBLL, the coalition previously asked Bodog to voluntarily block access in the province, but the company refused to comply.

Bodog operator Il Nido Ltd. and trademark holder Sanctum IP Holdings Ltd., both based in Antigua and Barbuda, are named as defendants in the case. MBLL noted that offshore gambling companies often use complex corporate structures, making it difficult to determine all entities involved.

A recent report from H2 Gambling Capital estimates that Canadian spending on offshore gambling sites, including Bodog, increased nearly 40 percent between 2020 and 2023, reaching $1.86 billion. A separate report from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) warns that offshore gambling sites may be used to launder proceeds from drug trafficking.

Yesterday, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries announced that its casinos will report suspicious transactions to FINTRAC and Winnipeg police.