Bodog Rebrands US Site to Bovada

On Wednesday, Bodog announced that it is rebranding the US versio of their site to Bovada.  The new url Bovada.lv launched Wednesday morning and is seen as an anticipatory move prior to the legalization of online poker in Nevada.

Here is the press release from Bodog:

“Following the Bodog Brand’s decision to withdraw the brand from the U.S. market as announced earlier this year, as of today (Dec. 14, 2011) the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG) will no longer operate under the Bodog name.

Whilst MMGG’s brand licensing agreement does not formally expire until Dec. 31, as from today, U.S. residents will no longer be able to access bodog.eu or any other Bodog branded website.

We understand MMGG will now operate under its new brand, Bovada, at the following website: www.bovada.lv, such domain being given to MMGG pursuant to its rights on expiry of the licensing agreement.

The Bodog brand is confident MMGG’s customer account information and funds will continue to remain safe and secure, as it has done since MMGG entered its original agreement with the Bodog Brand in 2006 and we would like to wish MMGG the greatest success in its new venture.”

This is not a totally surprising move.  Back in July the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group announced that they would be leaving the US because of their license with the UK Gambling Commission.

Players on the network were informed of the change on Wednesday and their balances automatically transferred to the new site.

While the players are claimed to be moved to a new site, it appears that Bovada may just a skin of Bodog.  According to a tweet from Pokerscout.com:

PokerScout1 PokerScout can confirm that Bodog and rebranded US site Bovada are not segregated. Same tables and tournaments.

At this time, HoldemPoker has been unable to confirm the claims of PokerScout1, but evidence to the contrary does not seem to have presented itself as of yet.  The site does claim that it is the same operator but a new brand.  As such, one has to wonder if this violates their agreement with the UK Gambling Commission.

We will report more on this story if information becomes available.

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