Bodog has ended their relationship with and sponsorship of 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jamie Gold. This news was first reported this morning as a blind item of sorts in PokerNews’ “rumor” section, and was later confirmed with an official statement from Bodog and in an article from the boys at Wicked Chops Poker.
The official statement claims that firing Jamie Gold is a direct result of Bodog’s decision “to cease all offline marketing initiatives in the U.S., and instead refocus its efforts on growing its entertainment brand in Europe and Asia” while others cite rumors that Bodog’s billionaire party-boy CEO Calvin Ayre had a strong personal dislike for Gold and felt that his disintegrating reputation in the poker community was also an issue.
Gold, while he’s not freaking out about the $6 million he’ll have to turn over to Crispin Leyser once he loses his lawsuit, can be found getting spanked by Doyle Brunson in the third season of High Stakes Poker now airing on GSN. I suppose he’ll also have more time now to work on his reality show/train wreck, The Hottest Mom in America for his fledgling production company Buzznation.
In other news, CC’s Bash is back and it starts tonight on Poker Stars. Show up and take my money…