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One is doing it as a means to forge ahead while another is doing it out of necessity, but both Bodog and Bookmaker, two of online gambling’s marquee brand names, switched over to .eu and .ag extensions, respectively, on Monday.
Bookmaker, now at bmaker.ag, really didn’t have much of a choice. Several of the company’s prized domain names were snatched away by US authorities as part of a payment processing sting. The US Attorney’s Office out of Maryland set up the processing company in 2009, luring four unsuspecting companies into the organization. Those companies were Bookmaker, BetED, UB.com and UseMyWallet. The later company was not named, but not charged. UB.com had already been prosecuted by authorities in the Southern District of New York last month. Only Bookmaker and BetED have been formally charged in connection with this matter.
While BetED processed some $33 million in gambling funds with the fake processing company, Bookmaker and its affiliate companies transferred a paltry $91,000. Several of Bookmaker’s brands were seized as part of the sting operation, including DoylesRoom.com, FunTimeBingo.com and BetDSI.com (Diamond Sportsbook). An online casino belonging to FunTimeBingo.com, GoldenArchcasino.com was also grabbed. Bookmaker has part ownership in both companies. The betting firm owns close to 130 domain names. Gambling911.com is learning that these specific company names appeared on the contract entered into with the fake payment processing company, Lindwood Payment Solutions.
Both owners of BetED.com were named in the complaint though no arrests are anticipated. It is widely believed that little, if any, funds from either of the companies were seized as part of Monday’s action. Only one individual was charged from the Bookmaker operation, Ann Marie Puig, who merely handles account receivables for the firm. Gamblng911.com can reveal that Ms. Puig frequently flies through the United States via Miami and may have had plans to do so this week before her flight plans abruptly changed.
Players can rest assured their money is safe at Bookmaker.com, DoylesRoom,com and all affiliated websites. Those companies look to change domain names shortly. Gambling911.com has attempted to reach out to BetED.com in order to determine that company’s plan moving forward. At press time, BetED had not yet responded.
The Maryland investigation, which has dragged on for over four years, appears to be wrapping up. The office was working in conjunction with the US Attorney in the Southern District of New York. That office has focused in almost exclusively on PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and UB.com along with associated payment processors.
As this was going to press, both DoylesRoom and True Poker were back up via the .ag extension.
- Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
