Regulator for internet gambling

August 05, 2008 12:23 PM

Establishing a body that regulates and supervises internet gambling in the Netherlands Antilles is a crucial step to keep this sector safe, corruption free, and internationally competitive. Especially now that the United States are getting more bitter in their fight against internet gambling, the Antilles must work on judicial and technical adjustments to utilize the opportunities that do exist in this branch.

As a reaction on new American legislation that does not only prohibit internet gambling, but also bank transactions in connection to this, Great Britain has created a ‘white list’ for international internet gambling. To get on this list, countries must comply with a number of conditions, including judicial and technical provisions that combat money laundering, fraud, and other criminal practices.

Ministers Maurice Adriaens (Transport and Communication, FOL) and David Dick (Justice, PAR) are therefore making every effort to get the Antilles on Great-Britain’s white list. “This sector offers employment to at least 1000 persons in Curacao”, said Dick. “It also creates revenue for the government. The developments in the US and Great-Britain have already caused some companies to leave our country.”

The two ministers have established a committee, in which Bureau Telecommunication & Post and the ministry of Justice are working together to effect the judicial and technical adjustments, so that the Netherlands Antilles can get on this white list and can this way fall in with internet gambling with all the other countries acknowledged by Great-Britain. “Regulating and upgrading this sector has been in consultation with the island territories for years already, but we now want to speed it up on national level. It can be decentralized once everything works”, said Dick. “The longer it takes the more risk this sector runs. In my opinion, the additions to our laws and also other handlings needed to secure this sector cannot be implemented fast enough.”

(Source: National Newspaper Antilliaans Dagblad / National Newspaper Amigoe / National Newspaper Vigilante)

July 28, 2008