Bodog.com domain name seized by US authorities

BodogBrand confirmed the news via email yesterday: “The BodogBrand became aware late on 27th February that the domain Bodog.com had been seized by US Homeland Security. This domain is not currently in use by the BodogBrand or any Brand Licensee and has not been in use since the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG) switched its operations from Bodog.com to Bodog.eu in May 2011.”

“The BodogBrand.com revoked its licensing agreement with Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG) on December 15th 2011 after publicly stating it would do so in July 2011. It is equally important to state that Bodog UK, Bodog Europe and Bodog Asia have never taken bets from the US.”

Visitors who log onto Bodog.com are greeted with a Department of Justice seizure notice similar to the one that was plastered on the homepages of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker and UB.com back on April 15, 2011. However, the difference in this notice is that it was issued by the Department of Homeland Security and not the FBI.

The seizure shouldn't affect the short-term business of Bodog. The Bodog.com domain name hasn't been in use since late last year. That domain name had already been switched to Bodog.eu and American players have been able to access Bovada.lv since December. Both of those sites are up and running as of Tuesday morning.

According to Bill Beatty, the author of the CalvinAyre.com article, Bodog first got wind of the seizure via a leaked VeriSign notice. Bodog founder Calvin Ayre is quoted in the article as well. "Not sure what to say," he said. "BodogBrand.com is a brand-licensing (organization) based outside the U.S. The brand left the market last year and the domain in question has been dormant globally for longer than that. We are only currently doing brand licensing deals outside the U.S. so this domain had no place in any of our current plans."

BodogBrand confirmed that it “is currently consulting with its legal advisors with a view to having the domain returned.”