Is Bodog’s Patrik Selin still pulling the strings at Ongame?

Steven Stradbrooke
July 14, 2010
15 Comments

Patrik-Selin-OngameMuch has been made of this Iranian nuclear scientist who appeared in a series of strange videos, first claiming he’d been kidnapped by the Americans, then claiming he was in the States of his own free will, then reverting back to his original claim. Given today’s revelations that said scientist is apparently on a flight back to Iran, we have to ask… Is Bodog Europe CEO Patrik Selin still running his former company Ongame?

Patrik Selin took over as CEO of the Ongame poker network in 2003, transforming it in three short years from bit player to serious contender, so much so that it was ultimately purchased by Bwin for a then-record price of €475M. But was there a secret side agreement to that deal? Was Patrik asked to publicly relinquish all control of Ongame, yet secretly expected to retain operational control, sorta like the Wizard of Oz, hidden behind the curtain yet continuing to tug on Ongame’s strings?

The reason we ask is because Ongame has just announced a ‘radical’ shift in the way it distributes rake to its players, one that rewards recreational players and the operators that bring them in, instead of the old method of handing that chunk of change over to the ‘sharks’ (who are already in the black and thus don’t really need or deserve extra compensation). Ongame’s system is called ‘Essence’ — you know, like a cosmetic fragrance — and it’s an apt name, because something sure smells here.

See, Ongame’s ‘radical’ shift bears striking similarities to the scheme laid out in detail by Selin and Jonas Odman (another Ongame alum) way back last year as their own plan for their new BodogBrand-licensed poker network. (By the way, ‘striking similarities’ is journo-speak for ‘dead ringer’.) Given the similarity in approach, we’re compelled to once again raise the question– is Patrik Selin still calling the shots over at Ongame?

Of course, we may be leaping to conclusions. It’s entirely possible that the folks at Ongame simply recognized that Patrik Selin and the Bodog Network had come up with a damn good idea, and so the guys wearing the Ongame speedos were only too happy to swim in Patrik’s wake. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and if that’s true, then Patrik and Jonas must feel especially pretty today.

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Tags: Article, Bodog Network, Jonas Odman, Ongame, Patrik Selin
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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=637022122 Markus Svennerstål

    ilarious. Or might it be that someone leaked information to mr. Selin, who proceeded start talking about something that Bodog have not, and never will, launch.

    Because, sorry guys, a few stolen power point slides does not a new business model make… ;)

    • http://www.facebook.com/jiri.pallas Jiri Pallas

      Why Steven Stradbrookes doesn’t ask OGN?

    • http://CalvinAyre.com Calvin Ayre

      By the way…I just talked to Patrik in London. He says he already launched that new commission structure a while back to no fan fare as he had already told the industry what he was doing a year ago. The rest of my response below still stands.

  • Mathias Phillips

    Don’t reveal too much now Markus!

  • usernamed

    But Patrik said this in September last year!

  • http://CalvinAyre.com Calvin Ayre

    This comment got a chuckle out of me. Jonas and Patrik have been arguing for this since before they took over Bodog Poker so this is not a Bodog issue Markus….Bodog Poker is just the organization they had recently taken over when they went public with this. If you can point out where anyone at OnGame other than Patrik and Jonas has mentioned this publicly before Sept 2009 I would be happy to cover it.

    I don't think anyone with the pedigree of these two would need to steal any power points from anyone working for the company they built. Maybe you should go here for a refresher course on Patrik and Jonas' history with Ongame.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrik_Selin

    Cheers and thanks for giving us your opinion.

    • http://www.facebook.com/jiri.pallas Jiri Pallas

      As most of people know – Ongame was built by Oskar Hörnell & comp. Try to see the difference between a vision and a mission (Oskar & comp) and administration (Patrik and Jonas). Why cannot P&J show after 4 years a similar success?

      • http://CalvinAyre.com Calvin Ayre

        Patrik was the CEO of ongame until it sold to bwin, , that is a fact. I find it interesting how you guys are now trying to say this does not mean anything. Its not often that the CEO of a major success can be said to be only an administrator so I am going to have to say I just can not believe this is real. I Have know Patrik since he was CEO of OnGame. As for a similar success…have you seen what they are doing now….I think they have one. . .

        • http://www.facebook.com/jiri.pallas Jiri Pallas

          Yes, Patrik was the CEO of Ongame but do you know from when? Are you trying to say that Oskar Hörnels contribution is ZERO? Is Patrik so stupid that he built Ongame for a few percent of money from bwin? I think the payment to Patrik was in proportion to Patriks contribution. :-)