Online Casino Magnate Calls on Gaming Industry to Help Haiti
Calvin Ayre, the founder of Bodog and an icon of the online casino industry, challenged his competitors to join together to help Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake which decimated it. Writing on his website, Ayre pledged to match the largest single donation by a member of the online gambling world, up to $1 million.Ayre wrote that all people making money have an obligation to assist the Haitians. He expressed dismay and disgust at the ruling elite of the poverty-stricken country, who he says filled their own pockets while driving the country down.
"That all said, the innocents as always are paying a horrendous price for this elite thievery and I think the global online gaming community has a duty to do something," writes Ayre.
Ayre notes that British-based volunteer group Oxfam is his charity of choice. He promises to match any pledge to Oxfam by online casino interests, up to $1 million.
Ayre is a controversial figure, noted for involvement with shady schemes before he hit it big with Bodog, including an insider-trading scandal and a marijuana-smuggling operation. US officials have been seeking to arrest him for years, for his online gambling and sports betting operations focusing on US customers.
Ayre has sold off much of his gaming empire, and was in seclusion for years, thought to be on the run from US investigators. His whereabouts are still kept secret, but he reimerged in November of last year by opening an eponymous website and blog.
