Antigua and Barbuda Online Gambling Licensing

As part of its economic development and diversification strategy, the Antiguan government took a series of steps commencing in 1994 to provide a framework for the development of a remote gaming industry on the island.

By the late 1990s, Antigua had enacted a comprehensive regulatory scheme for companies providing remote gambling services. The island’s reputation as a well-regulated jurisdiction for remote gambling operators contributed to a dramatic growth in its domestic gaming industry. Alongside the remote gambling services sector, other “offshore” services were developing in Antigua at the same time, particularly financial institutions and trust companies.

Antiguan regulation provides for two kinds of gambling and betting licences - interactive gaming and interactive wagering. The gaming licence is for casino-style gambling and the wagering licence is for sports betting.

The remote gambling operators in Antigua offer what is called “account betting” where a player must fund an account with money before being able to enter into wagers. The amount of a wager cannot exceed the funds on deposit in the account and players are not offered credit on which to gamble. If a wager is lost, the amount of the bet is taken from the player’s account for the benefit of the operator. If the player wins, the winnings are credited to the account. Players may request that all or any portion of the funds in their account be directed back to them.

The Antigua gaming regulations include:

• Strict Licensing Requirements. All licensed operators must meet a number of requirements and are subjected to a thorough due diligence review in order to be licenced.
• Player Account Regulations. There are a number of regulations governing player accounts. These regulations require operators to fully register and verify the identities of players before allowing participation in wagering. Operators must also confirm the name, date of birth and place of residence of registering players. Player identity must remain confidential.
• Age Limitations. Operators are not permitted to allow persons under the age of 18 to either participate in the conduct of the gaming operations or to participate as players or contestants in games.
• Responsible Gaming. Operators are required to display on their web sites a warning of the addiction possibilities of gambling and information on sites to assist compulsive gamblers. Operators are also required to exclude players from website access upon the player’s request.
• Anti-Fraud and Money Laundering Regulations. The regulations ensure honest play and that account wagering systems cannot be used by players to launder money.

The annual licence fee for interactive gaming is USD $75,000 and the annual licence fee for interactive wagering is USD $50,000. Key person licences are USD $1,000 the first year, and USD $250 in renewal years. There is an annual USD $5,000 renewal application fee for online gaming and sports betting licences, with additional charges if investigation fees exceed that amount.

Contacts

Address
First Caribbean Financial Center
Old Parham Road
P.O. Box 588, St. John's
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda
Website: http:// www.antiguagaming.gov.ag
Email: info@antiguagaming.gov.ag
Phone: (268)481-3300
Fax: (268) 481-330