Bodog: 15 Years of Fame and Fortune

What started some 15 years ago as a vision to build a brand unlike any the world has seen before is now a fully realized, globally recognized, online gambling and entertainment company unlike any other. Founded in 1994 by Canadian-born business visionary and philanthropist Calvin Ayre, Bodog has evolved from one of the first, upstart, online Sportsbooks, to become one of the world's top online gambling and entertainment destinations. From online sports betting, casino, and poker, to reality TV productions, an MMA league, and a record label, the Bodog brand is one of the world's most recognizable, diversified and evolutionary brands.

Though no longer involved in online gambling, Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre holds tight to his roots as a global ambassador for the Bodog brand, and he retained an interest in the BodogBrand.com venture capital and licensing enterprise that holds the global rights to license the brand worldwide and in all sectors. BodogBrand.com currently licenses the Bodog brand to several online gambling companies and is pursuing a number of opportunities in new markets that will see the brand become even more predominant on the global stage.

At its inception, Bodog's key focus was the U.S. market, though plans of global expansion were always in the cards. Securing a dominant presence in the U.S., and gaining a reputation as one of the best online gambling companies in the market, BodogBrand.com embarked on a journey of international expansion, licensing the brand to Bodog Europe for use in the Euro market, and Haydock Entertainment for use in the Asian market, with an expansive list of companies under consideration for licensing in as-yet untapped markets.

The Bodog brand for online gambling in the U.S. - located at Bodog.com - is exclusively licensed to and operated by the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG) of Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada. MMGG is led by Olympic gold medalist, Order of Canada recipient, and First Nations leader Alwyn Morris. While BodogBrand.com had previously licensed the brand to mix martial arts, television and music production enterprises, MMGG became the first, exclusive, online gambling licensee of the Bodog brand in 2007. MMGG is licensed and regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission of Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada to offer gambling services from Kahnawake to users worldwide.

Bodog Poker offers players a unique and feature rich online poker room, offering a variety of game types to choose from, including No Limit, Fixed Limit, Pot Limit, and Heads-Up Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7-Card Stud, 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, and 5-Card Stud, as well as a range of Sit-n-Go's, and Multi-Table Tournaments, all with limits and buy-ins suited for players of all levels, from beginner to expert. And Bodog Poker is one of the few online experiences that offer players a web- and flash-based poker client designed specifically with the Mac user in mind. The roster of Bodog Poker Pros currently includes Rockband superstar Evelyn Ng and online phenom Amanda Musumici. Bodog.com's Poker Pro roster has included World Series of Poker* bracelet winner and WPT Season VIII World Champion David Williams, two-time WSOP* bracelet winner Josh Arieh, and the winner of the 2006 WSOP*, the biggest WSOP* Main Event field and prize pool in history - $12 million - Jamie Gold. Bodog Poker celebrated its 1 billionth hand dealt milestone in October 2007.

Bodog's Vegas-style online Casino features more than 100 exciting games to choose from, playable in browser with the web- and flash-based Bodog online Casino, or via Bodog's downloadable, desktop-based online Casino software. In 2008, Bodog improved upon its Casino products even further, by breaking into the mobile gambling market, putting Bodog Casino's most popular games in the palms of its players hands.

Along with a world-renowned online Sportsbook that offers odds on everything from NFL Football and NBA Basketball, to top award shows like the Oscars and political events like Presidential Elections, Bodog offers sports fans the unique ability to wager on games live, after a game has started. In December 2006, Bodog announced the launch of BodogLive. Based on a popular Euro betting style commonly referred to as "in running betting", BodogLive gives players the ability to wager on specific events and plays in a game, as they happen.

Outside the online gambling space, the Bodog brand has been associated with numerous successful past ventures. Past brand licensees include Bodog TV, a full-feature Television production division, credited with creating the reality TV series' "Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker," "Bodog Battle of the Bands," the popular MMA TV series and league, "Bodog Fight," and a four-day charity event turned one-hour TV special dedicated to U.S. troops and their families, entitled "Bodog Salutes the Troops."

Along with Bodog TV, the Bodog brand took the music industry by storm in July 2005 when BodogBrand.com licensed the brand to Bodog Music, an international record label. Bodog Music's roster of artists included Canadian rock sensation Bif Naked, thrash metal legends Overkill, hip-hop icon DMX, and relative rock and hip-hop newcomers The Vincent Blackshadow, Neurosonic, Nazanin, Bishop, and Soma City Ward. The Euro division of Bodog Music had also established European distribution deals with such legendary acts as Wu-Tang Clan, Billy Idol, and Warren G. In March 2006, Bodog Music launched a $1 million Battle of the Bands competition that travelled the continental U.S. in search of the best independent band, pitting thousands of bands against each other for a $1 million recording contract with Bodog Music. The competition turned reality TV series featured judges Johnny "Rotten" Lydon, frontman of the legendary punk-rock band, "Sex Pistols," Bodog Music recording artists and Canadian rockstar Bif Naked, and guitarist for the iconic rock band "The Cult," Billy Duffy. Though thousands of bands competed, the Seattle based alternative rock band "Fall From Grace" came out on top and was awarded a $1 million recording contract with Bodog Music.

The Bodog brand has also had its own dedicated publishing division that offered an online magazine, Bodog Nation, and gambling/entertainment blog, Bodog Beat. As well as being considered a trusted source for gambling and entertainment news, Bodog Beat is still very much active and receives thousands of views every day.

Synonymous with the Bodog brand in many people's minds are outrageous, extravagant parties filled with celebrities and the world-famous Bodog Girls, and with a dedicated events team, Bodog has been able to hold some of the biggest parties in, or outside, the online gambling industry. Some of Bodog's most lavish events include a "Viva Las Vegas" Casino Night during Cannes Film Festival, a huge Carnivale Ball held at the Palms' Rain nightclub to close out the 2005 Bodog Marketing Conference, the four-day "Bodog Salutes the Troops" charity event held in Hawaii featured Snoop Dogg, Colin Quinn, Paul Rodriguez, Wanda Sykes, Ben Roethlisberger, and Shannon Elizabeth, a VMA post-party hosted by Jamie Foxx, an after party for the film premiere of "Two For The Money" which included such guests as Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo, Jeremy Piven, and Serena and Venus Williams, and a Bodog Poker launch party that drew the likes of Busta Rhymes, Luke Wilson, Bruce Willis, Chris Gotti, Hank Azaria, Rachel Hunter, and Irina Pantaeva.

In 2008, the Bodog brand expanded its reach even further by creating and distributing a graphic novel known as "Ayre Force." In close keeping with Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre's environmental and animal rights beliefs and philanthropic efforts, "Ayre Force" was created with the goal of raising awareness of a little known, horrific and painful process known as bear bile farming, where bile is extracted from the glands of caged bears. All materials used in the created and distribution of "Ayre Force" were environmentally friendly, and all proceeds from sales of the graphic novel were donated to an animal rights charity.

June 2009, Bodog.com celebrated another very important milestone, as it signed up its 3 millionth player, and rewarded the winner an exclusive prize package. 2009 also brings with it another huge milestone in the lifecycle of the Bodog brand as the brand celebrates its 15th anniversary! Bodog's 15 year celebration brings with it many new and exciting promotions and offers for new and existing players alike!