Bodog Founder Asks Online Gambling Industry to help Haiti

In response to the catastrophic earthquake on January 12 that left the poverty-stricken Caribbean nation of Haiti devastated, well-known online gambling entrepreneur, mogul and playboy, Calvin Ayre, has called upon the world's online gambling firms to donate money to help the battered nation.

The founder of hugely popular online betting, casino and poker operation, Bodog.com, has been very vocal about the plight of Haiti and its people, perhaps because as a resident of the nearby country of Costa Rica, he has first hand experience of the poor surrounding Caribbean nations, many rife with corruption.

And according to Ayre, Haiti is no different. He was recently quoted as saying: 'It's a disaster in Haiti. I know they have had a tough go from Mother Nature recently with hurricanes and now this earthquake, but I cannot help but be disgusted with the [Haiti] ruling elite that has driven this country down.

'But that's not all...I also want to challenge the rest of the online gambling industry to also contribute to Oxfam to help out in Haiti...and my private foundation will match any proven payment to Oxfam by an online gaming person up to $1,000,000' he said. Oxfam is a non-profit organization aiming to end poverty.

'That 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,' said Ayre. As such he is calling that all donations aimed at helping Haiti be pledged through www.oxfam.org.uk/donate/haiti-earthquake/calvin-ayre.

Reacting to Ayre's plea, leading interactive gaming portal, iGaming Business has also jumped on the bandwagon and is calling for the international online gambling community to dig deep for Haiti. It will reportedly unveil the total amount raised by Ayre and others at the iGB Affiliate Awards on January 28.