It’s getting pretty easy these days to focus on the more disheartening aspects of the current online gaming situation — the loss of the world’s biggest poker sites to the U.S. market, the closing of Casino Coins, and now even Doyle Brunson has left DoylesRoom.com.
But don’t be fooled — for the most part, business is still booming in the online gaming world, and most operators still eagerly anticipate entry into a newly regulated U.S. market.
EGR B2B Awards
Nowhere were the positive vibes more apparent than in the recent eGaming Review B2B Awards, which once again celebrated the finest business and software achievements in the online casino and Internet poker industry.
Microgaming and Playtech each raked in a big pile of accolades, Microgaming being shortlisted in five categories and winning in two. Playtech had a huge seven nominations and brought home two of the more prestigious awards, RNG Casino Supplier of the Year and Bingo Network of the Year. 
888’s independent B2B developer Dragonfish nailed down two of the biggest of those awards, receiving the Poker Software of the Year and Bingo Supplier of the Year nods.
Other notable wins: Social and mobile innovator Cozy Games took home the Innovation in Bingo award, and EveryMatrix was named the ‘Sports Betting Rising Star’. Get the full list here.
Ayre United: Bodog Thriving (and Hiring)
Bodog continues to boldly grab up as much market share as it can in the wake of Black Friday, even announcing a slew of new job opportunities in the company’s Manila office.
In a recent press release, Bodog announces its search to “recruit the cream of the gaming industry talent in all areas of the business to help further the phenomenal growth the company has enjoyed in the region. 
“Bodog88 want to build a team and grow the business in the most prolific area of the whole industry with the backing of a brand that already has had global prominence for over 15 years,” the release continues.
And Bodog founder Calvin Ayre continues to be one of the igaming industry’s most entertaining figures, creating media buzz and headlines in and out of the gaming world. At a time when many industry figures are going into semi-hiding, Ayre remains a symbol of online gaming’s economic power and sophistication.
Recently, Scotland’s Daily Record profiled Ayre, part of the recent wave of publicity greeting Bodog’s recent endorsement of Scottish football team Ayr United. The story describes CA’s trail from a Saskatchewan pig farm to his current billionaire, partying with Paris Hilton lifestyle.
The Sunday Herald also reported on “the startling announcement that a flamboyant Canadian billionaire – who made his fortune running an online gambling company – has agreed a sponsorship deal with football team Ayr United, aka the Honest Men.”
And in true Bodog party style, the company’s first PR move under the new endorsement was to buy free beer for 500 Ayr United fans.
And remember, the industry celebrates Ayre’s 50th birthday next week at the iGaming Super Show in Dublin.