Bodog has announced that the company will be leaving the U.S. market by the end of this year. Bodog will not be renewing its current license with Morris Mohawk Gaming and will instead turn to the UK.

Bodog has today announced that the company will be leaving the U.S. market by the end of this year, according to a press release published on the CalvinAyre.com website.

The Bodog Brand is currently operating under a license agreement with Morris Mohawk Gaming, but the company will now allow this agreement to expire at the end of 2011, the release stated.

The news comes shortly after the Bodog Brand became the first operator to gain a revised gambling license by the UK Gambling Commission, and the company will as a result now be moving moving all activity to the UK.

"Following recent news that Bodog UK has been granted a gambling license by the UK Gambling Commission, we are pleased to announce further developments to the Bodog brand going forward," the company stated.

According to Bodog, the move is made to ensure the future growth of the company, while withdrawing from the unsteady environment of U.S. online gambling.

"In order to ensure the brand's expansion is not affected by negative perceptions, both in the UK and elsewhere in emerging markets such as Asia, a decision has been made to withdraw the Bodog brand from the U.S. market at the end of 2011," the statement read.

"As a result, the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group brand licensing agreement will be allowed to expire on December 31, following which U.S. residents will no longer be able to access bodog.eu or any other Bodog branded website," the statement added.

The expiration of the current U.S. license will as such mean a goodbye to Bodog for American players, but the company stresses that no player funds will be harmed and that the option to switch to another operator will be presented, securing "business as usual" for all affected players.

"We understand that MMGG will launch under its own brand in 2012, licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. All Bodog.eu clients funds will remain safe and they will have the option to switch to a new MMGG brand should they wish but MMGG confirms it's business as usual," Bodog informed.

Bodog Poker is today the second-largest U.S. operator still offering real-money games to American players, following the Merge Network, which however has put a momentary stop to new U.S. signups.

Source: Poker.org