Surprise Bodog development

08.09.2007

Taking most industry observers by surprise as the week ended was a Bodog press release advising that a brand licensing agreement, including the use of all Bodog domains and the Bodog trademark, had been signed with Morris Mohawk Gaming Group in respect of operations and marketing of gaming in North America.

The move is being interpreted as a spin off of the 1st Technologies patent case against the gambling group which has resulted in Bodog's brands being effectively confiscated, forcing the creation of "NewBodog" domains as a presumably temporary countermeasure.

Speculation is rife on how the licensing agreement can shield Bodog from the impact of the 1st Technologies case, given that the domains have already been taken away under Nevada and Washington State legal procedures that will presumably only be changed through further litigation. In this regard the next legal argument presented by Bodog will hopefully throw more light on their strategy going forward.

Kahnawake-based Morris Mohawk is headed by noted First Nations leader Alwyn Morris, a double Olympic medal winner in kayaking in the 1984 Olympics who raised the symbolic eagle feather to honour his ancestors during the award ceremony. For his Olympic accomplishments and his work with youth in the Health and Welfare Canada Native Drug Abuse Programme, Morris was made a member of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honor in 1985.

Since then, he has been involved in numerous sport, civic and business endeavors to forward the position of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. He is currently Director of the Council of Chiefs for the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake located in Montréal's South Shore.

Midway through the release, which was dated September 6, the date "August 22, 2007" inexplicably appears - whether this is a stratagem or a simple typo is not known, but it is followed by a quote from Bodog boss Calvin Ayre applauding the deal and Morris Mohawk:

"We could not have found a more perfect partner than Alwyn Morris and Morris Mohawk Gaming Group. Morris is a true Canadian hero," says Ayre. "We are confident that Morris Mohawk will be able to give our North American customers the quality experience they have come to expect from Bodog."

Alwyn Morris responds with: "Our deal with Bodog is another great addition to the business community that has developed in Kahnawake. Working with the top brand in the industry will further solidify the extensive experience, knowledge base and importance of this vertical."

Bodog continues to evolve its business model, the release continues, and moving into a licensing agreement with Morris Mohawk Gaming Group for all North American gaming activities is in line with the company's plans for international expansion.

The website for Morris Mohawk Gaming Group reveals that the organisation is located on the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, part of the seven communities that make up the Mohawk Nation and is licensed to offer gaming services to users worldwide.