Rumors of Big Trouble at Bodog Poker - 08-25-08

August 25 - We do not spread vicious and damaging rumors. We leave that sort of thing to the folks at Gambling911. But once they start we're certainly not above recycling the facts. Nobody can ignore the signals coming from one of the most well known poker rooms in the industry, Bodog Poker, and those signals look a lot like Mohawk morse code for SOS.

This site, founded by the flamboyant Canadian billionaire, Calvin Ayre (that Forbes profile was the worst idea since the Indians decided to give the pilgrims a few turkeys to keep them alive), as part of the great Bodog Life brand, has been plagued with troubles since the summer when processing issues affected the smooth running of the business and acted as a scare tactic for many loyal players.

Due to these issues, a significant number of players have quietly upped and left, moving Bodog Poker from the 10 or 11th spot that it traditionally occupied on the list of the most popular online poker rooms, to number 14. Sites as crap as Cake Poker (who?) have dramatically overtaken Bodog Poker on the list, leading to much concern by management.

Bodog Poker, it has been reported, is banking on a very successful football season to offset the losses caused by these factors over the summer. Well, duh, obviously they're reliant on dumb sports bettors. Join the freakin queue. However, everybody in the industry knows that the NFL season can make or break a site, especially if it is pinning all its hopes on the results.

According to sources at Bodog Poker, the company has recently cut down its staff to a 'skeleton crew'. In the past weeks, Bodog Life laid off 250 employees at its Canadian headquarters, ranging from top management to customer support staff. All advertising and marketing activities have been suspended until further notice, leaving no room for the site's advertising manager who was also let go.

Poker affiliates are also becoming a little jittery about the rumors concerning Bodog Life. Traditionally an excellent converter for affiliates (which some claiming that Bodog products make up for 75% of their income), these same entities are wondering whether they can rely on this company much longer for its lucrative income.

Affiliates are starting to push other top companies in order to compensate on the possible void that Bodog may leave if the rumors can be believed.

One fact deserves a mention in the midst of all this hysteria - Bodog has always paid out every single winner, be they affiliate or player. There is no need for a run on the bank just yet. But all is certainly not well.

Read our Bodog Poker review, composed in happier times.