Bodog has found its self in trouble as the US government has recently seized $24 million from bank accountings linked to Bodog. The federal filings in the US make it clear that a serious criminal investigation of the Bodog enterprise is ongoing. The talk about the seizures of money from Bodog is likely to cause a stir with US based online gamblers, especially those with money in their Bodog player accounts. The US attorney’s office which launched the two lawsuits to take the $24 million didn’t comment when requested to.
Three months ago the previous famous owner, Calvin Ayre, transferred the ownership of Bodog to the Morris Mohawk Group. Calvin Ayre was on the Forbes magazine cover as he was one of the world’s billionaires
Bodog has used a complex international structure that was put together to allow Bodog to collect money and write checks to winning online gamblers in the United States. The funds ending up at the bank were in accounts of a third-party credit card servicer. The banks holding the money cooperated with the US law enforcement as they don’t knowingly allow internet gaming operations to open accounts. The IRS started paying attention to Bodog in 2003 and opened a formal probe in 2006. The case has involved close examinations of bank records and even included undercover efforts to make bets on football and collect winnings from Bodog.
This whole case on Bodog is very confusing and there are a lot of details unknown yet. As of now players will still be able to gamble at Bodog Poker and cash out their winnings like usual. If you are a Bodog player looking for an alternative I would suggest PokerStars, they are one of the most trusted poker rooms in the world.
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