ANTIGUA HOPES FOR UK WHITELISTING

1 February 2008

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 white listing, denied to Antigua and fellow licensing jurisdiction Kahnawake (see previous InfoPowa reports) 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 white listing, 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 white listing 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.”

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa