Antigua Attracting Gambling Companies

Achieving white listing status from the UK authorities that has enabled its licensees to advertise in the United Kingdom has proved to be a real advantage for the Caribbean island licensing jurisdiction of Antigua, reports local newspaper The Antigua Sun this week.

Kaye McDonald, the director of gaming for the government's Financial Services Regulatory Commission, told the newspaper that her department is currently busy processing and reviewing inquiries from a slew of new operators

interested in becoming licensed in Antigua and Barbuda.

Although she could not give a figure on how many inquiries have been received, McDonald said budgetary projections, based on what has so far been logged, show a significant increase of 100 percent.

After initially being excluded from the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport white list (see previous InfoPowa reports) the Antiguan government appealed the decision and negotiated its way on to the list late in November this year. By becoming white listed, remote gaming operators based in the islands were allowed the opportunity to advertise their services to consumers in the UK.

McDonald said it was additionally a form of endorsement for Antigua's regulatory regime, and that it could be an element in the increased interest in the island jurisdiction. But she also noted that her department's upgrade in the licensing and regulatory requirements had played a role in raising the profile of the country and creating meaningful business interest.

The potential of more operators creating better employment opportunities was touched on by McDonald, who said: "Obviously, to have a gaming company operating in Antigua means more than just having the hardware equipment here. Key personnel, key management and key operators are required to be in Antigua and Barbuda; this is of utmost importance."

McDonald told the Antigua Sun that the global recession had "to some degree" affected the gaming industry judging by the reports she had seen, but she added: "It is also widely believed that the gaming industry is the last to go into recession because some persons, when dealing with certain pitfalls look towards entertainment."

Antigua and Barbuda will be exhibiting at the ICE(i) show in London late January, along with other jurisdictions such as Malta, the Isle of Man and Alderney.

$400k Winner at Bodog Casino - To win, you need to get a pair of Tens or better. Jerry K., however, got a much higher hand than the minimum; he pocketed $397,879 after landing the game’s best possible hand: a royal flush.

NBA : Warriors Win the West; NBA Finals Next - The Golden State Warriors will play in their third-straight NBA Finals. They completed their sweep of the San Antonio Spurs Monday night, rolling to a 129-115 victory as 12-point road favourites; Golden State opened the season as a –250 chalk to win the Western Conference.

PartyPoker Rakebak - Partypoker brings back rake back for players. All new ‘partypoker weekly Cashback’ launches.

NHL Odds: Lone Canadian Team Plays on Friday - “Stingy” is a word that many have used to describe the Ottawa Senators in Round Three. The Sens know that they’re overmatched against a Pens lineup that features the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evengi Malkin and Phil Kessel, but with determined defensive play, Ottawa managed to frustrate the Penguins on their home ice, stealing one of two games.

NBA Odds: Will Cavaliers Be Rusty in Game 1? - The Boston Celtics needed seven games to get past the Washington Wizards, but they got the job done Monday night, winning 115-105 as 5.5-point home favourites. Next up: the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who visit the Garden Wednesday night at 8:30 PM ET on TNT.

4 New Microgaming Releases in May 2017 - Candy Dreams is a 720 ways to win, variable reel game. Players spin on a colorful reel area filled with candy treats, as they play towards enticing bonus triggers.

PKR Company Statement Update - Microgaming can confirm that David R Taylor and Matthew R M Wild of RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP were appointed Joint Administrators of PKR Ltd and PKR Technologies Limited on 11 May 2017 by the High Court, Chancery Division.

Microgaming Wins The Spark Award 2017 - The Spark Award celebrates organisations that experiment with ways of working differently. Previous winners include GCHQ and Places for People. It’s a part of Spark the Change, a global movement dedicated to empowering people and building happier workplaces.

NHL Predators First Ever Conference Finals Appearance - With three of the team’s top four point scorers residing on the blueline, the Nashville Predators have found a strategy that frustrates even the best in the West. After qualifying as the lowest-seeded Western Conference team, the Predators made quick work of the Chicago Blackhawks (4-0) and St. Louis Blues (4-1) in the first two rounds.