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One of the big stories last year was Bodog.com losing its domain name following a much publicized trademark dispute.
It was just last week that the company lost its trademark case on appeal.
Floundering and left for dead, Bodog had managed to get its site back onto web search after switching to the BodogLife.com domain name.
Now they stand to lose that domain name as well.
A Kentucky circuit court ruled on Thursday that BodogLife.com and 140 other Internet gambling domain names will be turned over to the state unless owners are willing to appear in court on November 17 to show proof that they have implemented geo-targeting software that blocks out Kentucky residents.
Ironically, it was just three years ago that Bodog founder Calvin Ayre spent millions via promotions at Kentucky Derby. Back then, when Ayre was running the company, he would have probably had no qualms about appearing on Bodog's behalf.
Today, nearly every online gambling operator is fearful of stepping foot in the United States, and with good reason. Ayre and others are widely believed to have their names on US Government "watch lists".
The chances of Bodog having someone appear on their behalf in an "ownership" capacity may be more likely than with other Internet gambling sites it seems.
Last year, Ayre turned over ownership of Bodog to a Kahnawake company that has since been running the online gambling firm into the ground, slow paying players and screwing numerous vendors. Nonetheless, Kahnawake representatives could be more inclined to appear in Kentucky, representing a sovereign nation.
It was not immediately known whether BodogLife.com's registrar would comply with the Frankfort Kentucky circuit court judge's order.
BodogNation.com, which acts as a search engine ranking tool for the company, is not named in the complaint and should be able to function as usual.
Slowdog.com might work.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
