Virgin’s Richard Branson wins Bodog in Single Poker Game
Bodog.com Founder and CEO Calvin Ayre Resigns
Monday 4th April 2005
Calvin Ayre, Founder and CEO of Bodog.com is stepping down after revealing today that he lost the company he started from the ground up 12 years ago, to Branson in a single poker game.
Earlier this month, the two met for dinner in Vancouver. As the night progressed, they challenged each other to a No Limit Texas Hold'Em Poker game. The stakes escalated to the fateful final hand, where each player raised and re-raised until their companies were on the line. Ayre thought pocket Queens on the pre-flop was enough to win, went all in and lost to Branson’s pocket Kings.
“To all of my employees and colleagues, I am deeply sorry and extremely embarrassed,” Ayre says. He added, “To Bodog's most loyal customers, I feel I've let you down but I have every reason to believe that under Richard Branson's direction, Bodog will continue to thrive and flourish.”
Calvin Ayre, Founder and CEO of Bodog.com is stepping down after revealing today that he lost the company he started from the ground up 12 years ago, to Branson in a single poker game.