National Information

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation located in the Eastern Caribbean. It is a former British colony that achieved full independence in 1981. Antigua and Barbuda has a population of 68,000 people. It is an English-speaking country. While considered one of the finest tourist destinations in the tropical Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda has also developed a reputation as a respected center of Caribbean banking and commerce.

For more information about Antigua and Barbuda, see www.Antigua-Barbuda.com or www.Antigua-Barbuda.org.

The Antiguan Remote Gambling Industry

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 licenses — (1) interactive gaming and (2) interactive wagering. The gaming license is for casino-style gambling and the wagering license 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.

Summary of the Antiguan Gaming Regulations

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 licensed.

• 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.

For more information on Antigua's interactive gaming and wagering laws and regulations see the following:

Interactive Gaming and Interactive Wagering Regulations, as Amended 2007
Control Systems Guidelines
Social Responsibility Commitment

The Antiguan Directorate of Offshore Gaming

The Antiguan gaming regulations are enforced by the Antiguan Directorate of Offshore Gaming (the “Directorate”). The Directorate maintains a frequently updated web site providing information on obtaining a license, on existing license holders, on legislation and on other topical matters. See www.antiguagaming.gov.ag. Licensed operators are required to take and investigate customer complaints and either report back to the customer or Directorate within 21 days of the complaint. Complaints may also be made directly to the Directorate. The Directorate is required to investigate and provide a response to the customer. The Directorate has investigatory powers and may conduct investigations of operators whether pursuant to a complaint or otherwise. The Directorate also has monitoring powers that permit it to oversee, monitor and supervise operators, their key persons, or games offered by the operator.

Customer Complaints

While customer complaints in our industry are rare, as in any customer service business, they can occur. If a customer of an Antiguan remote gambling operator has a complaint about the operator, the customer should first complain to the operator. If that does not resolve the matter, the customer should file a complaint with the Antiguan Directorate of Offshore Gaming. The Directorate is the governmental body responsible to review and, if necessary, investigate and resolve customer complaints. Customer complaints may be submitted through the Directorate’s web site, www.antiguagaming.gov.ag/complaints.asp, or at the following address and telephone number:

The Directorate of Offshore Gaming
Division of Gaming
2nd Floor - West Wing
First Caribbean Financial Center
Old Parham Road
P.O. Box 588, St. John's
Antigua & Barbuda
West Indies
Tel: (268)481-3300
Fax: (268) 481-3305
www.antiguagaming.gov.ag