Categoria: uk internet gambling

ANTIGUA GAMING DIRECTOR OPTIMISTIC

In the Antigua Sun, Patricia Campbell, wrote that the Antigua’s top regulator for online gambling is hopeful that changes in the political situation of the US Senate and House of Representatives are the start to a more favourable position on Internet gaming from US officials.

“By and large, I am encouraged. I am hopeful that this can present some positive dialogue and some positive actions for Internet gaming, not only on our front, but for the industry at large. I am hopeful that we will be able to see some positive movements with respect to our [World Trade Organisation] trade dispute and the US compliance in that regard, given the change in the House of Representatives and the Senate,” McDonald said, adding that it is important to be realistic in such expectations, in light of the overwhelming three to one vote cast when the recently passed restrictive legislation moved from the House of Representatives into the Senate.

She also noted that the United Kingdom has embraced Internet Gambling and expects to fully get onboard as regulators in December 2007. The UK called the first international summit on remote gaming earlier this month.

McDonald expressed some concern about how the entrance of the UK could affect Antigua & Barbuda, but concluded that this was generally a positive move. “We’ve been in it for the past 10 years and it has been like a go-alone situation, so I am encouraged, as a regulator, to see that international regulators are coming together in a forum and trying to establish common principles and protocols. We have been doing that as part of the International Gaming Association for the past two years, to try to establish common standards for Internet gaming jurisdiction, so I am very pleased that a first world economy like the UK is on-board.”