The online gaming operator Bodog is one of many online operators that have changed their domain names this week to reduce the risks of the US authorities from seizing their .com domains. Ten gambling domains have already been seized after indictments were issued by a federal grand jury in Baltimore.

In an effort to make sure it does not become number eleven, Bodog has changed its domain name from Bodog.com, to Bodog.eu. By moving from the US .com domain to the European .eu domain, Bodog will be hoping to avoid action from the authorities.

It is not known how far the US authorities now plan to take the issue of illegal gambling. In 2009 The US Attorney’s Office out of Maryland set up the processing company which lured numerous gambling companies to forge a relationship with them and only now are some of these companies being raided and assets seized. Operators of online gaming sites that have taken money from US residents are now worried that the worst is yet to come and changing domain names is likely to be only one of the precautionary actions taken.

Gaming analyst Steve Schwartz predicted that other online gaming operators would follow suit. He commented: "Right now, the online gaming sites cannot be too cautious. They do not know when or where the next set of seizures may come, and companies like Bodog have too much invested in the industry to take any chances."