Bodog has ended its long-standing presence in Canada under its original name, relaunching this week as Ozoon following an overnight transition. The offshore betting operator confirmed that player accounts were successfully migrated, allowing users to log in with their existing credentials after scheduled maintenance.
On Monday, Bodog Canada informed customers that site maintenance would take place but did not disclose that the brand would disappear. The company later confirmed that the Bodog name had not been renewed with gaming operators, bringing nearly three decades of branding to a close. In a message to users, the operator stated: “While we are thankful for such a positive partnership for so many years, this presents us with an opportunity for us to relaunch under a different brand name,” without revealing the successor brand at the time.
Manitoba Withdrawal and New Licence
The rebrand comes alongside Bodog’s exit from Manitoba. A provincial judge issued a permanent injunction last summer, ordering the company to stop advertising, close bodog.eu, and block residents due to the lack of a local licence.
Player accounts and balances are moving to Ozoon.eu, operated by Rocketship Ventures under a licence from the Tobique Gaming Commission, part of the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick. The commission invites foreign operators to apply for licences, with oversight from the Differentia Licencing Advisory Group, and states it supports responsible and transparent gaming practices.
Bodog Poker previously operated in Canada and across Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. Latin American poker accounts will transition to Ignition Poker. Customers must download Ignition’s software to access former Bodog accounts, while existing deposit and withdrawal methods and bonuses will remain available.
History and Market Pressure
Calvin Ayre founded Bodog in the late 1990s and launched its sportsbook in 2000, gaining recognition during the early online poker boom before expanding into casino gaming. In 2012, U.S. authorities seized the Bodog domain and indicted Ayre, prompting a rebrand to Bovada for the American market.
In Canada, Bodog operated within a grey market outside regulated systems such as Ontario’s framework, which permits private operators to compete alongside the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Alberta plans a similar model to compete with PlayAlberta.
National scrutiny has increased. The Canadian Lottery Coalition, formed in August 2022 by provincial gaming bodies including BCLC, AGLC, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, Loto-Québec, and Atlantic Lottery, seeks to curb offshore gambling and related advertising.
Grey market activity persists. An April 2025 Ontario study found 16 percent of players used unregulated sites, often licensed overseas. Meanwhile, 83 percent of Canadian users now bet on regulated platforms across 48 licensed markets, generating billions in revenue.
At the Canadian Gaming Summit 2025, research presented by Troy Ross of TRM Public Affairs estimated illegal market gross gaming revenue at CAD1.97 billion in Quebec, CAD1.3 billion in Alberta and British Columbia, CAD757 million in Ontario, and CAD600 million in Atlantic Canada.
Source:
“Offshore Betting Operator Bodog Rebrands as Ozoon in Canada”, finance.yahoo.com, February 17, 2026
