- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Bodog, one of the world’s largest and most controversial online gambling groups, has applied for an operating licence for the UK despite allegations that its substantial activities in the US are criminal.
In an interview with the Guardian, Bodog’s founder and boss, Calvin Ayre, rejected such allegations, saying: “We have licences from sovereign governments to do what we do – that’s how it works on every other industry on the planet.” Ayre admitted Bodog took bets from US customers but claimed the company did not “operate” there.
Almost all of the other online casino and poker groups targeting British punters have chosen to boycott the UK regulatory regime because of the 15% remote gaming tax imposed last year by the Treasury.
Bodog, which is expanding its European operations, is among the few internet gambling groups to have continued taking bets from US customers after the enactment there in 2006 of the Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act.
Ayre has a colourful history. He remains suspended from holding directorships of public companies in the Canadian province of British Columbia following a share trading scandal in the early 1990s. He was also linked to a cannabis-smuggling conspiracy in 1989 for which his father was among those who served prison terms. Ayre was never charged and denies involvement in the episode.
To receive the remote casino and general betting licences for which Bodog has applied, the company must pass a “fit and proper operator” test. A spokesman for the Gambling Commission, the industry regulator, confirmed last night that Bodog applications were still pending.
Ayre said UK licences would not necessarily be used to take British bets. He pointed out that Bodog already had an Antiguan licence, which it is using to establish a foothold in Europe.
From the Bodog website:
Outside of North America, Bodog is regulated and licensed by the United Kingdom and the Caribbean nation of Antigua.
Now I’m confused – and worried!
Does anyone know definitively if Bodog is licensed in the UK? Cos if it isn’t, that puts UK affiliates in the position of illegally advertising an unregulated operator. Which is not good…
@Fortune Palace 152916 wrote:
From the Bodog website:
Now I’m confused – and worried!
Does anyone know definitively if Bodog is licensed in the UK? Cos if it isn’t, that puts UK affiliates in the position of illegally advertising an unregulated operator. Which is not good…
as far as i am aware, they are not licensed in UK at all. it is not clear to me why they mention on their website that they are licensed there.
on the other hand, if you go to bodog’s website and click on the antigua seal in the bottom left corner, you’ll also see that apparently they do not hold a license in Antigua either.
This Company is not licensed by the Directorate of Offshore Gaming of Antigua and Barbuda
sooo…go figure….
splinterfree;152948 wrote:if you go to bodog’s website and click on the antigua seal in the bottom left corner, you’ll also see that apparently they do not hold a license in Antigua either.I’m confused also. It says they are licensed by Antigua in their profile. Where exactly does it say that Bodog isn’t licensed there?
Apparently, it’s the Sportsbook that’s licensed in the UK as they have a bookmaker’s licence. Not sure where that leaves Casino and Poker.
@splinterfree 153010 wrote:
if you click on the antigua seal on bodog’s website, it takes you to this page where it says that.
Do you think that’s because bodog.com was licensed and no-one has bothered to update the details after the domain name changes?
Not that I’m suggesting that the Antigua Gaming License is a one-man job or anything … (ahem) …
:tongue:@TheGooner 153032 wrote:
Do you think that’s because bodog.com was licensed and no-one has bothered to update the details after the domain name changes?
Not that I’m suggesting that the Antigua Gaming License is a one-man job or anything … (ahem) …
:tongue::roflmao: you are probably right, i never thought about the new domain thing.
Just an update on this. Bodog are licenced in Antigua under the company name Coolidge Gaming Ltd.
http://www.antiguagaming.gov.ag/licenseeInfo_withLinks.asp?ID=1179
