Calvin Ayre
Calvin Edward Ayre (born May 25, 1961) is a Canadian-Antiguan entrepreneur based in Antigua and Barbuda. He is the founder of the Ayre Group and Bodog entertainment brand.
Calvin Ayre | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 25, 1961 |
| Education | Bachelor of Science, University of Waterloo MBA, City University of Seattle |
| Known for | founding the Ayre Group and launching the Bodog entertainment company |
| Title | Special Economic Envoy to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda |
| Board member of | Calvin Ayre Foundation |
| Website | ayre |
In 2000, Ayre launched online gambling company Bodog, the success of which made him a billionaire. Ayre's notoriety increased in the mid-2000s as online gaming's popularity surged, landing him on the cover of Forbes magazine's 2006 annual Billionaires edition and Star magazine's "Most Eligible Billionaire Bachelors" list in late 2007.
In 2012, Ayre was indicted by the US Attorney for Maryland on charges of illegal gambling and money laundering. Despite the Antiguan government's view that the charges against Ayre were “completely contrary to binding international agreements,” in 2017, he pled guilty to a single misdemeanor charge and all other charges against him were dropped. In August 2017, Ayre was appointed as an Economic Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda to advise on developments in blockchain technology.