Antigua Confident In Making UK White List

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Caribbean licensing jurisdiction says it its requirements are parallel to those of the Gambling Commission

With online gambling companies and licensing jurisdictions still mulling their next moves in the wake of the UK government's decision to restrict gambling advertising to operations with credible licenses officials of the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda have told local newspapers that they were confident of making the "white list".

Earlier in the week when the UK's Department of Culture, Media and Services released their list of acceptable licensing jurisdictions, it indicated that the suitability of Antigua and Kahnawake in Canada was still under consideration.

Only two jurisdictions have been initially recommended for approval namely the jurisdiction of Alderney and the Isle of Man. Applications from Antigua and Barbuda and Kahnawake are still receiving consideration, whilst applications from Alexander (Canadian Reservation), Tasmania (Australia) and Netherlands Antilles have been rejected by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, James Purnell.

Gibraltar and Malta are approved under the umbrella of being in the European Economic Area.

The Antiguan Minister of Finance and the Economy, Dr Errol Cort told Caribbean News that he remains confident that Antigua and Barbuda's application for a UK "Whitelisting" will receive approval in due course, given that the jurisdiction's regulatory and licensing objectives are parallel to the United Kingdom's intended remote gaming regulatory regime. Both promote the prevention of underage gaming, protection of the vulnerable, fairness in all games and the combating of illicit activities and financial crimes, he said.

Director of Gaming in Antigua, Kaye McDonald underscored the Minister of Finance's comments with respect to the jurisdiction's regulatory and licensing framework and believes that the application process provides an opportunity for governments and regulators to work collectively to continuously improve the regulatory environment associated with remote gaming.

Cort emphasised that the UK's "whitelisting" is an on-going process and stated that Antigua looks forward to working with the United Kingdom on the jurisdiction's application and with other proactive governments across the globe to further develop international standards.

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Antigua Surprised At UK Whitelist Exclusion

Thursday, January 17, 2008 mgowanbo.cc

Caribbean island government says it met requirements

Departing on a flight to Washington for further talks on the WTO struggle with the United States Trade Representative this week, Antigua's Finance Minister Dr. Errol Cort digressed sufficiently to tell reporters that he was surprised and disappointed by the UK government decision not to grant advertising whitelist status to his country.

Last week the British government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport declined to give Antigua and Kahnawake whitelist status, which would have enabled online gambling companies licensed in those jurisdictions to advertise in the United Kingdom. Tasmania, on the other hand was included, joining respected jurisdictions like Gibraltar, Malta, Alderney and the Isle of Man.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission was more outspoken, hinting that it may seek to take the matter further through the United Nations.

Dr. Cort said that the rejection was particularly surprising as an Antiguan delegation is set to meet the UK Minister of Sport next week to discuss the issue. The finance minister disclosed that he will lead a delegation to London next week Thursday, to meet with the UK minister responsible for gaming, and intends to continue discussions with the gaming authorities in the UK in hopes of achieving this goal.

Cort said the delegation hopes to return with a better understanding of what is hindering the process. In earlier statements Cort had said he was confident whitelist status would be achieved after cooperating with the DCMS on its requirements.

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Antiguan Online Gambling Amnesty

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 mgowanbo.cc

Caribbean online gambling jurisdiction appeals for American understanding

The Antiguan government showed some outstanding chutzpah this week in appealing to the United States government, which it has just bested in a bitter World Trade Organisation dispute over Internet gambling, to grant amnesty to operators of online casinos based in the island nation so that they may enter and exit the US.

Most online gaming operators fear travelling to or through the United States after a series of high-profile arrests and the initialisation of Internet gambling prohibitions starting in 2006.

"We believe this matter can be settled in an amicable way because we enjoy an excellent relationship with the United States," said Dr. Errol Cort, Finance Minister for the island government.

One such operator is the high profile founder of BodogLife.com Calvin Ayre who has not travelled to the US for over a year and stated that he is beginning to miss it.

Assuming the US allows operators residing in Antigua to move about the United States freely and without harassment, there are still concerns regarding states such as Louisiana that have filed at least a dozen sealed arrest warrants against online gambling executives. There is also the long standing case of World Sports Exchange owners Steve Shillinger and Hayden Ware, who remain fugitives in Antigua after being indicted for violations of the 1962 Wire Act in 1998.

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Antigua Rejects WTO Copyright Criticism

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 mgowanbo.cc

Islanders have a right to protection from discriminatory US laws

The Antiguan Minister of Finance and the Economy Dr. Errol Cort has rejected the opinion of an international intellectual property specialist that Antigua and Barbuda could be in violation of a key international copyright treaty if it moves forward with plans to impose WTO-approved sanctions against the U.S.

Cort was responding in the local media to comments by Jorgen Blomqvist, the director of the Copyright Law Division of the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), who said that as a signatory to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, Antigua and Barbuda would be legally obligated to protect copyrights, even if the World Trade Organization (WTO) approved the sanctions.

Cort said that while he had not had the opportunity to do research on the technical point which was raised by Blomqvist, he rejected the idea that the WTO-approved sanction would contravene other international treaties.

“I would have a big difficulty accepting what is being suggested, because if that is so, it puts a nonsense to the whole World Trade Organisation and the rulings and sanctions. It just brings the whole thing into disrepute. So I don’t accept that,” he said.

“It seems to me that what we would be saying at the World Trade Organisation is, notwithstanding whatever treaties you may have entered into, rulings of the WTO would have to be viewed in the context of an agreement to suspend these treaty obligations and to give supremacy to the ruling of the WTO.”

The finance minister said that he views the gaming dispute with the U.S. within this context. “Otherwise,” he added, “it would be a useless exercise to talk about going to the WTO to get some ruling and then you can’t lawfully implement the ruling. So, I don’t accept that particular view."

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Antigua Hopes For U.K. Whitelisting

Saturday, January 26, 2008 mgowanbo.cc

Island finance minister hopeful after meeting with UK counterpart

Antigua's exclusion from the UK Gambling Commission advertising white list could be overturned following a meeting between ministers of the two nations earlier this week.

The Antigua Sun reports that Antigua Minister of Finance Dr. Errol Cort headed a delegation which met with Britain's Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe on mid-week and came away perceiving their chances of a reversal of the ruling as "favourable".

The whitelisting, denied to Antigua and fellow licensing jurisdiction Kahnawake  is important as it allows online gambling companies in accepted jurisdictions to advertise in the UK.

“We are extremely encouraged by the reception we received from Minister Sutcliffe and his staff,” Minister Cort told the Antigua Sun after the meeting.

“I was happy to learn that very little stands in the way of our approval for whitelisting, and I think I can express confidence that this issue will be resolved favourably in the very near future,” Dr. Cort added.

Minister Cort and the other members of his delegation visited Minister Sutcliffe with the hope of moving the process along and ensuring that the Gambling Commission had all information necessary to complete its review and approve Antigua’s application.

The Antiguan delegation also included UK High Commissioner Dr. Carl Roberts, Deputy Administrator of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission Trevor Mathurin, Director of Gaming Kaye McDonald, Gaming Regulatory Consultant Alan Pedley and Legal Advisor Mark Mendel.

Minister Cort indicated that he had assembled the team in order to be able to address the specifics of any questions or concerns that Minister Sutcliffe may have had regarding Antigua and Barbuda’s regulatory efforts.

“We are acknowledged global leaders in the regulation of this industry,” McDonald claimed.

“Our standards are the highest in the world and we view the whitelisting as important to demonstrate our commitment to the highest standards in the supervision and oversight of this dynamic industry.”

Minister Cort concluded by stating that he considered the mission an unqualified success.

“This meeting shows what governments can accomplish by working cooperatively and openly to resolve issues between them. We appreciate Minister Sutcliffe’s interest in this matter and look forward to concluding this matter shortly.

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Antigua只不过是bodog等博彩公司老板使唤的工具而已，毫无道德和职业标准可言。