Former Bodog Exec Launches California Software Firm

The former Bodog executive Jonas Odman has launched his own company, and Brown Marlin Gaming Technologies, based in California will offer an online poker platform that's designed specifically for the casual, or recreational player. The new company is set to focus solely on the US regulated market and Odman clearly has an eye on developments in California. The Brown Marlin website states that, "Brown Marlin Gaming Technologies is interested in partnering with any land-based casino that has obtained a gaming license in one of the regulated states. We are also interested in building business relationships with entities that plan to obtain a gaming license in states where regulation is likely to happen in the future." Now there's a clear marker if ever you needed one.

Odman was heavily involved with the introduction of Bodog and Bovada anonymous tables and this is the model that Brown Marlin will be offering with their new platform. The game offering is in fact pretty similar to that offered at Bovada, with plenty of Texas Hold'em and Omaha and featuring heavily on the website, as is the fact that recreational model is the one that they will be focusing on. Anonymous tables have sprung up at many rooms now, and are popular with smaller players, however Odman may have a few problems in partnering with US land based casinos.

His well known association with Bodog and Bovada may lead to Brown Marlin not actually being able to offer their service in a regulated market, and although he obviously has no connections to the company now, the fact that Bodog founder Calvin Ayre has been indicted may very well go against Odman. We only have to look at the problems that surrounded PokerStars when they attempted to enter the US market again to see where the issues may lie, and it could be the case that regulators and license approval bodies would be less than willing to give the new venture the accreditation it requires in order to serve any regulated US market.