Online gambler seeks UK licence

Bodog, one of the world's largest and most controversial online gambling groups, has applied for an operating licence for the UK despite allegations that its substantial activities in the US are criminal.

In an interview with the Guardian, Bodog's founder and boss, Calvin Ayre, rejected such allegations, saying: "We have licences from sovereign governments to do what we do - that's how it works on every other industry on the planet." Ayre admitted Bodog took bets from US customers but claimed the company did not "operate" there.