Bodog UK leaving 20 nations

From August 30, customers in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan will not be allowed to deposit and play at Bodog.co.uk with existing clients in these nations being advised to withdraw their funds before the cut-off date.

“We feel it is better to concentrate on our strengths and where we can offer the best product,” read a statement from Bodog UK. “The Bodog brand is known for its high level of customer service and spreading ourselves too thinly to try and cover a huge amount of smaller markets was proving logistically difficult. Bodog.co.uk will concentrate on growing existing markets.”

“We recommend that you withdraw any balance you may have in your account by August 30, 2012. Minimum withdrawal amount is $/€/£10. After August 30, we will adjust your balance to zero to protect your funds. To withdraw your balance after August 30, you will need to contact customer service at [email protected].”

The news comes nearly nine months after Bodog was rebranded to Bovada.lv in the U.S. Bodog also exited Spain in March before that country launched a new regulated online gambling market.

The brand's strategic focus has been shifting toward the Eastern Hemisphere in recent months. In June, the Bodog Poker Network was sold to the Bodog88, the brand's Asia-facing arm. The company said in a press release that the completion of its business-to-business software and the online poker industry’s acceptance of a recreational poker model will allow Bodog88 to take the business to the next level in Asia.