http://www.gambling911.com/888.com-Bodog-020408.html

Date: Feb 4 2008

888.com, Bodog Aggressively Move Into Asia

888.com, the online gambling venture that was forced out of the US market in late 2006 as one of the nation's most visible online casino brands (formerly Casino On Net) continues to make inroads into Asia.

We reported last month on how 888.com had teamed up with the premier Asian casino software provider EntertAsia.  The later enjoyed a strong reception at the Marc Lesnick Casino Affiliate Conference in Macau just weeks before.

The agreement includes the provision of an Asian-focused sportsbook product in partnership with E-Sky, a specialised Asian sportsbook, with 888.com planning to launch the new service in multiple Asian territories and languages early this year.

'We have been providing the very best in-class online gaming and excellent customer service for Asian customers at 888.com for ten years now,” said Gigi Levy, Chief Executive Officer for 888.com.

“We are always looking to extend new innovative services to our customers and increasing our presence in Asia is one of our key strategic goals. We see Entertasia as the best partner to achieve this goal and exploit this exciting opportunity.”

'Enterasia is one of the leading gaming solution providers in Asia because we understand exactly what Asian customers want,” said Jason Chan, Chief Executive Officer for Entertasia.

Publicly traded companies the likes of 888.com have shareholders who desperately want these firms to enter the so-far untapped Asian market.  EntertAsia provides necessary resources locally that have long presented obstacles.  Language variations, monetary transactions and cultural differences are just a few of the areas that have stalled Western-thinking operators from entering the Asian market.

Bodog.com, too, is moving aggressively into the Asian market.  Found Calvin Ayre plans to spend nearly the entire month of February in Asia at an undisclosed location and has taken things a step further by embracing the Eastern mindset. 

"The reason I like Asian business philosophies is because they fit my brain and I recognize their power," Ayre told Point-Spreads.com in a phone interview Super Bowl morning. "Show me the person who does not think winning wars without fighting battles is a good idea and I will show you someone destined to fail over the long run."