Feds Shut Down BoDog Gambling Site, Indict Owners

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 01:20:29 PM EST
Tags: online gambling (all tags)

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Update: Response from Bodog Brand founder Calvin Ayre.

Not sure what to say. BodogBrand.com is a brand-licensing organisation based outside the US. 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 US so this domain had no place in any of our current plans.”

A new gambling indictment and website seizure by ICE and Homeland Security has been announced.

The sports gambling site Bodog was shut down and four Canadians indicted, including founder Calvin Ayre, for illegal gambling that generated more than $100 million in winnings, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday. The website’s domain name was seized Monday and the indictments which were handed down Feb. 22, were unveiled Tuesday in Baltimore, prosecutors said.

[More...]

Here's the press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

“Sports betting is illegal in Maryland, and federal law prohibits bookmakers from flouting that law simply because they are located outside the country,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Many of the harms that underlie gambling prohibitions are exacerbated when the enterprises operate over the internet without regulation.”

...The two count indictment alleges that from at least June 9, 2005 to January 6, 2012 the defendants conducted an illegal gambling business involving online sports betting. The defendants and their conspirators allegedly moved funds from Bodog’s accounts located in Switzerland, England, Malta, Canada and elsewhere to pay winnings to gamblers, and to pay media brokers and advertisers located in the United States. The conspirators directed payment processors to send at least $100 million by wire and by check to gamblers located in Maryland and elsewhere.

The Feds say they are serious about cracking down on gambling sites:

“Today’s indictment of Bodog Entertainment Group S.A. and its founder and operators sends a strong deterrent message to those that facilitate illegal online sports betting operations and commit crimes against our nation’s financial system,” said William Winter, Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI in Baltimore.

“The proceeds from illegal Internet gambling are sometimes used to fuel organized crime and support criminal activity. ICE HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, will disrupt and dismantle organizations that commit these crimes, regardless of their location, whether here in the United States or abroad.”

Was Bodog used to "fuel organized crime?" Doesn't sound like it:

The defendants and their conspirators allegedly moved funds from Bodog’s accounts located in Switzerland, England, Malta, Canada and elsewhere to pay winnings to gamblers, and to pay media brokers and advertisers located in the United States. The conspirators directed payment processors to send at least $100 million by wire and by check to gamblers located in Maryland and elsewhere.

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Feds Shut Down BoDog Gambling Site, Indict Owners | 22 comments (22 topical)

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gambling (5.00 / 0) (#17)
by womanwarrior on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 10:04:53 PM EST

Well, I guess competing with the state is a no no. Specially if you are better at it?

I think you're onto something... (5.00 / 0) (#18)
by kdog on Wed Feb 29, 2012 at 09:19:58 AM EST

Bodog took horse racing action...they're definitely better at that than NYC OTB, the only bankrupt bookie I ever heard of...that's supposed to be impossible!


How does a bookie go bankrupt? (none / 0) (#19)
by jeffinalabama on Wed Feb 29, 2012 at 09:34:49 AM EST

That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a while!

Bookies ALWAYS get their cut, unless they're NYC's OTB, I suppose.


: In a couple easy steps.... (none / 0) (#20)
by kdog on Wed Feb 29, 2012 at 09:44:45 AM EST

NYC OTB, and all the OTB subsects for that matter, are notorious patronage mills for elected officials...stash political cronies there for 40 years making a hundred grand a year for doing d*ck, thats alotta pensions Jeff. Plus general government mismanagement and the assumed skimming/shadyness...Voila one bankrupt bookie!

No mention of Bovada? (none / 0) (#1)
by Dadler on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 01:43:52 PM EST

Bovada is the site, still operating, that BoDog transitioned into back in December. I think Alabama Jeff made a few bones on the cyber-felt there recently. Curious move, although I guess I just expect Bovada to get seized soon, but wonder why it's not included here.

Shhhhh (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 01:49:56 PM EST

Maybe the feds haven't figured it out.

Anyway, I wonder about getting the money.

And finally, talk about a waste of resources.


Yeah! (5.00 / 0) (#4)
by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 01:59:14 PM EST

People had their retirements in there. WTF man? I don't. I don't understand enough about gambling. But others do, and they were making out better than handing those jackwagons on Wall Street their money. At least on Bodog you know what the real actual odds are.


: Maybe that is the reason... (none / 0) (#9)
by kdog on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 02:13:00 PM EST

for the authoritarian crackdown on legitimate on the square gambling the last few years...trying to push the gamblers into the crooked casino on Wall, or to the suckers bets that are state run lotteries.
I wish all the punters luck getting their money back from the bandits wearing badges.

I shudder to think.... (none / 0) (#5)
by Dadler on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 02:02:50 PM EST

...how inept they would have to be NOT to have figured it out.

I thought you divested of online betting, Tent.

Zipping the lips now.


Stupidly (none / 0) (#7)
by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 02:10:01 PM EST

I went back in.

A few shekels in play for me.


I've been riding the Heat (none / 0) (#8)
by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 02:10:33 PM EST

for a month.


Pretty smooth ride so far (none / 0) (#10)
by Dadler on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 02:16:13 PM EST

Passing up that last shot in the all-star game against Kobe, though, eek, come on man.

Hope you get your dough, you friggin' degenerate. ;-)


If I cashed out now (none / 0) (#11)
by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 02:18:38 PM EST

and stopped investing, I'd be in good shape.


: CASH!!! (none / 0) (#12)
by Dadler on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 02:35:08 PM EST

Yesterday.

: Gotta know when to holdem (none / 0) (#16)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 06:29:29 PM EST

and when to foldem.

"Waste of resources" is being polite (none / 0) (#6)
by Dadler on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 02:04:28 PM EST

I shall zip it again here.


Yep, I can play Bovada now if I want to (none / 0) (#2)
by Dadler on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 01:44:49 PM EST

Just opened it, it's still operating.


Ohhh no, gamblers Will Have to Use... (none / 0) (#13)
by ScottW714 on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 04:09:44 PM EST

...brick and mortar Casinos to gamble. Of course that's assuming they can actually curtail it.

Talk about taking a bite out of nothing, what a complete waste of resources.

I think it's time to legalize gambling on the internet. I can do it through ScotTrade, why not through Bowhatever.

And why do I suspect Maryland has a lotto program. You can bet on predetermined outcomes that favor the state, but not on events with unknown outcomes which both side are equally (in theory) favored. Stoooopid.

: Maryland indeed has a variety (none / 0) (#14)
by Zorba on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 04:58:48 PM EST

of state-run lottery games. Daily games (Pick 3, Pick 4, Bonus Match 5), Jackpot games (Multi-Match, Mega Millions, and Powerball), and Monitor games (Keno and Racetrax). Plus a number of scratch-ff games. ;-)

Gambling is (none / 0) (#15)
by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 28, 2012 at 05:14:48 PM EST

DA DEVIL. That's why I play poker, a game of skill.

I think I'll withhold more comments on this move by Justice... and see about cashing out again, or converting my address to Colombia and chips to Euros...

Gonna play another tourney tomorrow (none / 0) (#21)
by Dadler on Wed Feb 29, 2012 at 10:48:02 AM EST

Haven't monied in a tourney yet, but where I play it's tough, only the final table pays, usually out of a hundred plus players. Much more comfortable playing live tho, I'll keep you apprised. Think I may play one of the cheapo midnight last chance satellites to the WPT Shooting Star next week. Start at midnight, finish probably at 7 or 8 in the morning. Worth a shot.


: Take 'em down Kid... (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by kdog on Wed Feb 29, 2012 at 11:19:23 AM EST

must be so nice to live in a state where you can sit down and play some cards without having to worry about John Law busting down the door to jack your stack...how civilized!