There are big changes in the future for Bodog online entertainment. The company, which operates an online casino, poker room and sports book, among others, will soon be leaving the U.S. market entirely. To make up for business, the company intends to make more money in Europe and Asia.

On December 31, 2011 Bodog’s licensing agreement with the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group will expire. That North American-licensing contract allows Bodog to offer services to American customers. When it expires, word is that Bodog will walk away from America, at least for now.

Calvin Ayre, the founder and CEO of Bodog, believes that the company will return to America soon. “If you ask me what’s going on in the United States,” he said, “it’s clear that the United States is gearing itself up to enter the industry.” If it does enter the industry, with Bodog’s customer base and reputation it is a favorite for an early license.

The UK will try to help make up for the loss of customers by not allowing Americans to play starting 2012. Bodog was one of the first online gambling companies to receive a license from the UK Gambling Commission. Their next target, though, is Asia. “The real market is in Asia, not in North America,” said Ayre.

Macau has the largest casino industry in the world, dwarfing Las Vegas. Not only that, it continues to grow at a massive rate while in must jurisdictions the revenue is down. Similarly, the new casino market in Singapore continues to grow and is quickly becoming second to Macau. To Ayre and many others, Asia is an emerging market for online gambling and will soon be the biggest market for it in the world.

Anyone who has ever gone to school knows how crazy rumors can spread. It starts with someone seeing you talking with Ms. Jameson after class and then before you know it the whole school is reporting that you are getting special lessons “Hot For Teacher” style. It’s the kind of thing that makes the reputation of a young man and leads to the firing and arrest of the lovely teacher. Poor Ms. Jameson.

A recent poll* found that 42% of people believe the story about Richard Gere and the gerbils. The same poll found that 65% of the country believes that Timothy Geithner is part elf and 83% of the country believes that I am amazing in bed. Only one of those three has been confirmed.

It seems that the online gambling community is not immune to the spread of rumors. For some time, people have been talking about the possibility of Betclick buying out Everest Poker. Recently, though, the rumor has gotten stronger, with at least one media outlet reporting that a deal between the two would be announced next month. When asked about that, Betclick refused to comment. Of course, that is only fueling more speculation that the report is accurate.

Betclick, a company that primarily deals with sports betting, would certainly benefit from acquiring Everest Poker. They are not the only suitor, though. PartyGaming, among other online casinos, have been in talks with Everest. Only time will tell if the rumor is true. In the meantime, I might as well start another rumor. Have you heard that Bodog casino is owned by communists?**

*Note: This poll was unscientific poll and only people in my office were surveyed.

** This should go without saying, but I made up that rumor. To my knowledge, there is no truth to it. But then again, I can’t disprove it, either…