Calvin Ayre

Calvin Edward Ayre (born 25 May 1961) is a Canadian-Antiguan entrepreneur based in Antigua and Barbuda. He is the founder of the Ayre Group and Bodog entertainment brand. In 2000, Ayre launched online gambling company Bodog, the success of which made him a billionaire. Ayre's profile 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. 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.