Sportingbet, which announced its departure from the North American market on the eve of the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in October 2006, has quietly renewed its online sports betting offering in the region.
Sportingbet spokesman George Hudson confirmed with IGN that the company this week launched an online sports book, ca.sportingbet.com, targeting Canada-based bettors.
Like many other publicly-traded I-gaming companies, Sportingbet reacted to the passage and signing of the UIGEA by withdrawing from the U.S. market due to the uncertainty facing the industry under the new law. The company left the market by offloading its U.S.-facing operations to Antigua-based Jazette Enterprises for $1.00.
Although the group abandoned operations in the United States, it continued to market its Paradise Poker brand in Canada, Europe and other relevant markets.
Word of Sportingbet's Canadian operation was broken by VegasInsider.com, a portal site, which attributed direct statements to Gary Lewis, reportedly the group's head of Canadian operations.
When questioned about Lewis' ties to Sportingbet, however, Hudson was unable to identify Lewis' position with the company.
IGN will continue to investigate; more on this to come.