Monday, 21 May 2012
This two-island Caribbean nation was one of the first jurisdictions to offer licenses for remote gambling operations, and have been doing so since 1994. The nation's history in the online gambling industry has been a rough one, riddled with battles against the US for the right to offer online gambling services to US players. Despite these setbacks, the region still maintains a strong reputation as one of the oldest and strongest online gambling licensing jurisdictions in the world.
All online gambling licenses issued out of Antigua and Barbuda are controlled by Antigua & Barbuda Mapthe Financial Services Regulatory Commission's Division of Gaming. Much of the regulation that governs locally licensed gambling companies comes from local anti money laundering laws, as gambling sites are classified as "financial institutions" and are subject to many of the same rules. Of course, additional guidelines are in place that specifically target their role as bet taking centers. Thorough preliminary investigations are required prior to a license being issued, and the actual license fees are some of the highest in the industry.
Antigua and Barbuda recently gained a UK Gambling Commission "White List". This means their regulatory standards are excellent, and have passed the Commission's scrutiny. The status even grants sites licensed out of Antigua and Barbuda with special advertising rights in the UK. The Antiguan Directorate of Offshore Gaming handles all player disputes that gaming operators cannot or will not resolve. All of these elements together make Antigua and Barbuda an excellent overall licensing jurisdiction.
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