Calvin Ayre

Calvin Ayre
Calvin Ayre in 2023
Born (1961-05-25) May 25, 1961 (age 63)
Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
EducationBachelor of Science, University of Waterloo
MBA, City University of Seattle
Known forfounding the Ayre Group and launching the Bodog entertainment company
TitleSpecial Economic Envoy to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Board member ofCalvin Ayre Foundation
Websiteayre.group

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.[1]

In 2000, Ayre launched online gambling company Bodog, the success of which made him a billionaire.[2] 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[3] 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.[4] Despite the Antiguan government's view that the charges against Ayre were “completely contrary to binding international agreements,”[5] 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.[6]

  1. ^ "CoinGeek founder Calvin Ayre, former online gambling mogul, bets on crypto". BNNBloomberg.com. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  2. ^ Bowers, Simon (February 8, 2008). "Billionaire bookie who went from farmboy to playboy". www.guardian.co.uk. The Guardian UK. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  3. ^ "Calvin Ayre, The World's Richest People - Forbes.com". images.forbes.com. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  4. ^ Office (USAO), U. S. Attorney's. "U.S. Attorney's Office - U.S. Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  5. ^ "Antigua-Barbuda welcomes resolution of criminal case as part of failure by US to comply with WTO ruling on internet gaming – Caribbean News Now". www.caribbeannewsnow.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  6. ^ Neate, Rupert (18 February 2018). "Gambling tycoon builds $100m bitcoin-funded Antiguan resort". the Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2021.