Manitoba Judge Bans Bodog from Province
- Court slapped injunction against Bodog last month
- Judge orders offshore online casino to cease all operations and advertising the province
- PlayNow is the only legal and regulated multi-product online gaming website in Manitoba
A Manitoba judge has issued written reasons why he banned Bodog from the province, a decision that the Canadian Lotteries Coalition (CLC) hails as a big win.
Bodog Blocked
In May, the court slapped an injunction on Bodog, which had been operating in the province without a license.
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) had filed an injunction with the Manitoba Court of King’s bench on behalf of the Canadian Lottery Coalition against Il Nido Ltd., Bodog’s operator, and Sanctum IP Holdings Ltd., which owns the Canadian trademarks, in January.
In Manitoba, PlayNow.com is the only legal multi-product gaming website.
Violation of Criminal Code
The judge issued a permanent injunction requiring Bodog to cease operating bodog.eu, and to cease all advertising around the platform (that the advertising was false and misleading). The company must implement geo-blocking technology at bodog.eu to prevent anyone in Manitoba from accessing it.
The Honourable Jeffrey Harris, a Judge of the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba, said that Bodog has no legal authority to operate in Manitoba. Its acceptance of bets violates the Criminal Code of Canada, Competition Act and Trademarks Act.
No Legal Authority
“[Bodog] is misleading Manitobans as to the lawfulness, character and quality of the www.bodog.eu and the www.bodog.com platforms,” he said. Justice Harris said that no Canadian or provincial government regulates or controls Bodog’s activities. Therefore Bodog has no obligation to implement responsible gambling features, pay taxes or comply with anti-money laundering requirements.
The Criminal Code of Canada gives provinces the exclusive right to conduct and manage gaming. That includes online gaming, within their respective jurisdictions. In Manitoba, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) is the designated authority.
Only Legal Site is PlayNow
CLC is comprised of MBLL, Atlantic Lottery Corporation, BCLC, Loto-Québec, and Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan.
“We, as a Coalition, are grateful to Judge Harris for his care and attention to the file.,” said William Hill, Executive Director of the CLC. “His decision and the reasons he’s shared should resonate within Manitoba and, quite frankly, across the country and across the industry. We have consistently held the view that in Manitoba, PlayNow is the only legal and regulated multi-product online gaming website. Judge Harris has unambiguously reaffirmed as much.
“This is all part of a larger set of efforts made to curtail illegal online gambling in Canada,” he said. “We will take some time to enjoy reaching this major milestone and this legal victory. But the work will continue and there’s much more to be done.”
Misleading Statements
Among several false and misleading statements, the judge wrote, was “Bodog is a legal online casino in Canada”, and “Bodog is the most trusted site in Canada”.
“The fact that their operations are situated offshore, outside the reach of Canadian authorities, makes it highly unlikely that MBLL would be successful in any effort to enforce the significant monetary judging against [Bodog],” the judge wrote.
https://www.casino.org/news/manitoba-judge-bans-bodog-from-province/