Bodog to exit US online gambling market


Probably the most recognized names in online gambling, specifically amongst US players, Bodog has decided to withdraw from the US market at the end of 2011. Bodog has long been a popular online casino in the United States, and this decision is yet another negative for US gamblers and online sports bettors.

The brand has announced that it will withdraw as of 31 December 2011, where after no US players will be accepted or allowed to access their accounts. The move is geared at bringing the Bodog group in line with other online gambling establishments who have also departed from the US market.

According to several sources, the decision by Bodog to exit the US market has come about due to the company recently acquiring a license from the UK Gaming Commission, and one of the requirements was that Bodog had to comply with the new laws set forth by the Commission before the license could be granted.

In a statement on Calvin Ayre's website, the company made it clear that they wish to ensure that the Bodog brand's expansion is not affected by negative perceptions, especially in the UK market as well as other emerging markets where the brand is already showing substantial success, and as such, the decision was made to withdraw from the US market by the end of this year.

There is also a strong belief that Bodog's decision to leave the US is to place the company in a better position to re-enter the US market in the future when US lawmakers change the current online gambling laws, with speculation being that this change in the laws could happen later this year. This is evident in the increased number of bills that have been proposed of late to end the prohibition of online gambling in the United States.

Many of the conservatives who have been opposing online casino gambling in the US have started to soften their stance in recent times, with this being seen as a positive move towards changing the current laws, expected to happen later in this year.