BETWWTS JUST THE FIRST ON BODOG'S ACQUISITION LIST

And Ayers says he was prepared to spend to get Sportingbet's US operations

The acquisition of Betcorp's US-facing operation BetWWTS is just the start of an ambitious acquisition trail says a press release on the deal from Costa Rican-based online gambling and entertainment group Bodog.

Bodog.com Entertainment Group acquired the company’s international infrastructure, which includes its comprehensive gaming products, international customer base, technology, licenses and the group’s Antiguan offices. The agreement, conditional only on the approval of shareholders, is another step in Bodog.com’s long-term strategy to expand its brand presence into international markets,  the press release claims.

“This purchase, which speaks directly to the current strength of our business, is the first of many possible international acquisition targets under consideration,” says Calvin Ayre, the billionaire founder of Bodog.com. “We couldn’t be better positioned to build upon our current success and growth and to continue our aggressive push towards international expansion into markets such as Europe and Asia.”

Bodog.com says its acquisition of Betcorp’s international infrastructure will also have many implications for the industry and its international player-base.

“Our latest move has been part of our long-term strategy and only represents good news for the industry and for the many existing and prospective Bodog.com customers,” says Ayre. “It is in times such as these that players gravitate towards the strongest, most successful and most reputable companies. We’re confident in the strength of our brand and we’re confident that our players are, too.” 

There is also added benefit in this deal to host countries such as Costa Rica and Antigua & Barbuda, as Bodog.com will be growing its operations in both countries.  Bodog.com employs hundreds of employees in Costa Rica and its purchase of Betcorp’s Antiguan offices will effectively save a number of jobs from being lost, the release concludes.

Media reports this week that Bodog was interested in acquiring the discarded Sportingbet interests in the US for considerably more than the nominal $1 for which they were sold to Jazette Enterprises have been read with interest by the London market. The reports are that Bodog's Calvin Ayre contacted Sportingbet's Andy McIver to announce an interest, and that Ayre was prepared to talk in the millions, but the exchange was not fruitful.