GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 10 - Sept 2009

34 GPWA Times :: Another reason why Calvin chooses to reside in Antigua is because his working relationship with the Antiguan government has always been extremelypositive. “Antigua has always been a pioneering and amazingly forward-looking place when it comes to online gaming – people don’t give themnearly enough credit for that.” Cavlin says Antigua was oneof thefirst jurisdictions to licenseand regulate online gaming, and after the ‘white listing’ by the U.K. last November, Antigua-regulated licensees are now entitled to advertise on a level playing field in theU.K.”This “white listing”helps explain why Keith McDonnell, Bodog Europe’s licensee, chose to launchBodogEuropeunder anAntiguan license...and isyetanotherreasonwhyCalvin likes to remainon island. So they candrink rumpunch together, obviously. Inadditiontorespectingthegovernment’sattitude toward online gaming, Calvin simply loves the relaxing, decompress lifestyle that comes along with Antigua living. “The ultimate reason why I maintainmy primary residence in Antigua is the lifestyle...whowouldnotwant to liveon thebeach andbeable togooutsnorkelingandwakeboarding everymorningbefore loggingon to the ‘Net? I am fromapart of Canada that is as coldas Siberia, so forme thisreally isparadise. If Iwanta fasterpace or agoodparty, I canalways charter aplane.” Now,howcanyouarguewith that?Icertainlycan’t as I sawCalvin’sAntiguan lifestylefirsthandwhen I went down for a visit. Always true to his word, first full day in town, Calvin treatedme to a ride on his boat, a wakeboarding lesson, a snorkeling adventure and several beers in the sun, all before a fresh seafood lunch on the beach. The next day Calvin treatedme toamorning rideon theSubCat Antigua, an actual submarine that dives through the coral reefs of Antigua, all before a series of afternoon strategy meetings. This is something that anyone couldget used to. So what about the Antiguan nightlife? It’s not as bad as you think...especially if you start drinking wine at 4p.m. onCalvin’s fully loadedocean-view deck.Anywhereandanything is funwhenyoustart boozingat 4!OK, fine– somaybe thenightlife isa littlequieter thanwhat theonline gamblingworld is used to, but take it fromme – if you’ve got the right crew, you will have fun. However, I hate to blow his cover, but each night I was in Antigua, I stayed out way later than Calvin, the industry’s notorious party animal. Don’t tell anyone, but I think it’s because I am younger than he is...or maybe it’s because he had just come from several largenights inLondonwithour veryownMichael Caselli. Hmm. Either way, I don’t care. I stayed out later. Bodog shooting for the stars