Antigua has overhauled its entire online gambling regulatory system this week. The Division of Gaming in the Financial Services Regulatory Commission is operating under amended regulations this week, the result of an extensive review of Antigua & Barbuda’s gaming regulations.
“That went very, very well. We had a one day symposium last week. We had a very interactive and robust session but at the end of the whole day we came out with very comprehensive regulations. I think it’s balanced. It keeps in mind national best practices while at the end of the day incorporating the commercial realities of our operators,” Director of Gaming Kaye McDonald said.
News of the overhaul was originally reported by Point-Spreads.com back on March 2nd, 2007 in our interview with Calvin Ayre, CEO & Founder of Bodog.com were he stated, "Antigua is not going to license everyone. Antigua & Barbuda is going to be more selective after recent developments to ensure there is competent management."
The division has indicated that the jurisdiction is focusing on tightening control of the online gambling industry. The BETonSPORTS fiasco had a lot to do with this new found desire to clean up the gaming regulations on the island. McDonald even raised the possibility that some operators may see their licenses suspended.
This move could not have come at a better time. Antigua & Barbuda just won a landmark online gambling case over the United States at the World Trade Organization. The WTO agreed with Antigua and stated that the United States could only block such websites if its laws were equally applied to domestic firms that offer other forms of internet gambling such as remote betting on horse racing.
