Bodog cuts back on U.S. ads, moves to Antigua

The company calls its advertising pullback "extensive" and says it applies to television, radio, magazine and newspapers ads for its free-play Bodog.net site in the U.S. market.

"Though the online gaming environment in the U.S. seems to be headed down a path toward eventual regulation, the current climate calls for even more focus of our gaming-related advertising dollars into markets that face Europe and Asia," said Bodog founder and CEO Calvin Ayre in a statement. "We couldn't be better positioned to build upon our current success and growth and to continue our aggressive push toward international expansion into markets such as Europe and Asia."

The company did not announce whether it would continue to advertise on U.S.-facing Internet sites and gaming portals. As of this posting, Bodog has not returned Casino City's calls for comment. Bodog will continue to advertise its television, music and publishing products in the U.S.

Bodog recently completed the relocation of its global head office and gaming operations from Costa Rica to Antigua. The company initiated the move in mid-November upon acquiring Betcorp, the owner of BetWWTS. Betcorp's operations werebased in Antigua.

"This is another step aimed toward strengthening our business model," said Ayre. "This accords our gaming division a license in a safe, reliable and well-regulated jurisdiction and Antigua is also the right jurisdiction from where to run our European expansion."

Some of Bodog's data entry offices as well as its charity division and part of its television production division will remain in Costa Rica.