The Court of King’s Bench in Manitoba has issued a landmark ruling permanently barring offshore gambling website Bodog from operating in the province. On May 26, Justice Jeffrey Harris delivered the court order, which was followed by written reasons released in late June, confirming that Bodog’s activities violate multiple Canadian laws and inflict substantial harm on provincial operations.
Justice Harris found that Bodog, operated by Il Nido Ltd. and Sanctum IP Holdings Ltd., had no legal grounds to offer gambling services or promote them to Manitoban residents. His judgment cited clear breaches of the Criminal Code of Canada, and pointed out that Bodog had falsely marketed itself as a legitimate and safe gambling platform.
“Bodog’s operation in the Province of Manitoba has created significant confusion among Manitoba residents regarding the legality of gambling platforms accessible to them,” the judge stated in his reasoning. He further emphasized that Bodog’s offshore base makes it “highly unlikely that MBLL would be successful in any effort to enforce the significant monetary judgment against them.”
Gambling Site Ordered to Cease All Activity in Manitoba
As part of the injunction, Bodog and its related entities must stop offering gambling services in Manitoba and halt any advertisements accessible in the province. Additionally, the companies must install geo-blocking technology to prevent Manitobans from using their platforms, including Bodog.eu and Bodog.net.
The ruling stems from legal action taken earlier this year by Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) on behalf of the Canadian Lottery Coalition (CLC). MBLL argued that Bodog’s unauthorized gambling offerings jeopardized the province’s regulatory structure, diverted public revenue, and provided no consumer protections.
According to MBLL, all profits from legal gambling operations within Manitoba are reinvested into essential provincial services like healthcare, education, and housing. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year alone, MBLL returned nearly $380 million in revenue.
MBLL President and CEO Gerry Sul praised the court’s decision: “With this decision, Justice Harris has unequivocally confirmed that Bodog’s operations within Manitoba are prohibited by the Criminal Code, Competition Act, and the Trademarks Act, and that MBLL has the sole legal authority to provide gambling offerings within the province.”
A Broader Crackdown on Offshore Operators
While this ruling specifically targets Bodog’s presence in Manitoba, it is part of a wider campaign across Canada and the U.S. to curb unlicensed online gambling. Sister site Bovada faced similar enforcement in U.S. states like Michigan and Colorado in 2023, where authorities ordered internet service providers to block the site.
In Canada, only provincial governments are allowed to operate gambling services under the Criminal Code. Manitoba’s sole legal platform is MBLL’s PlayNow. However, offshore operators like Bodog continue to lure Canadian players through misleading claims of legality and safety.
Justice Harris accepted evidence that Bodog is not subject to any Canadian regulatory oversight. This means the platform is not required to implement responsible gambling practices, pay taxes, or comply with anti-money laundering regulations. He also noted that misleading promotional content falsely characterized Bodog as “one of the safest places to gamble online within the realms of the country,” which the court found to be in breach of both the Competition Act and the Trademarks Act.
Provincial Lotteries Continue to Push for National Action
The CLC—which includes MBLL, Loto-Québec, BCLC, Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation—has long voiced concerns about offshore gambling’s impact on regulated Canadian markets. The coalition has also raised these issues at the federal level in Ottawa and during legal proceedings in Ontario.
Ontario remains the only province that has launched a regulated iGaming market, allowing private operators to apply for licenses. Some of these operators were previously active in the grey market before transitioning to legal status.
Pat Davis, President and CEO of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, highlighted the broader impact of illegal platforms: “The continued advertising and promotion of illegal gambling sites gives Canadians the false impression that they are operating legally, which is not the case. Not only are many of these sites operating in offshore markets that leave no protection or recourse for the player, but they also divert revenues that would otherwise be returned to provincial governments and directed to much-needed programs and services.”
Future Enforcement Likely to Intensify
The Bodog case is likely to serve as a legal precedent as Canadian provinces increase efforts to shield local players from illegal gambling sites. With single-event sports betting fueling market growth since its legalization in 2021, the demand for secure, regulated platforms is higher than ever.
While Ontario has taken a regulatory approach by incorporating some former grey-market operators, other provinces like Manitoba are adopting stricter enforcement strategies to uphold their gambling laws and preserve public trust.
Justice Harris’ ruling, which directly ties Bodog’s operations to incalculable damage to MBLL and Manitoba, reinforces the provinces’ exclusive rights over gambling activities and signals a growing intolerance toward unlicensed digital operators across the country.
Source:
‘’BODOG BLOCKED FROM OPERATING IN MANITOBA’’, newswire.ca, July 03, 2025.
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