Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda has a long standing reputation as one of online gambling's first licensing regulators. In 1994, before the Internet gambling craze encompassed the entire globe, Antigua became the world's first online gambling jurisdiction.

To this day, Antigua and Barbuda remains one of the most well respected jurisdictions across the globe. This is in no small part due to the measures taken to ensure fairness and legality.

The Antiguan government set out to diversify and increase economic development in the 90s. This was the framework for what would become the island's remote gaming industry. Antigua enacted a very inclusive regulatory scheme for various companies providing remote gambling services by the late 1990s. Due to a solid reputation, the island experienced dramatic growth in its own gaming industry.

Under Antiguan regulation, two types of gambling and betting licenses are provided: The first is an interactive gaming license, for casino gambling and wagering, and the second is interactive wagering, used for sports betting.

Antigua's remote gambling operators offer account betting, meaning a player must fund his or her account before wagers can be made. No wager can exceed the amount funded, and wins or losses are credited to a player's account.

Antigua and Barbuda have strict license requirements. All licensed operators need to meet a number of requirements before even being considered for approval, and they will be subjected to a thorough vetting process to ensure reputability.

Some of the lesser requirements state that operators strictly enforce age limitations, barring anyone under the age of 18 to participate in the gaming operations or as players. All operators are also required to display a warning on their web site, citing the various addiction possibilities of gambling and subsequent information on sites assisting with compulsive gambling.

Antigua and Barbuda have a web site that offers a way to connect for those seeking a license. They present detailed information about their screening process. In order to secure a license, an up-front, non-refundable fee of $15,000 USD is required for due diligence.

This screening process is very thorough, and if passed, an interactive gaming license costs $100,000 USD. For an interactive wagering license, applicants must pay $75,000, with an additional $5,000 annually for renewal. If you'd wish to have a monitoring system, the fee is $25,000 for one license, $45,000 for two.

All operators must meet Antigua's high standards of excellence. Anti-fraud and money laundering regulations must be adhered to, as well as a slue of other regulations regarding finance. Antigua is not responsible for changing laws or regulations in any particular area.

Any customer complaints can be filed with the Antiguan Directorate of Offshore Gaming if a remote gaming operator isn't able to handle the issue. The Directorate will review and investigate the problem if necessary.

Licence Fee
$15,000 non-refundable application fee.
Interactive gaming license: £100,000.
Interactive wagering license: $75,000 plus $5,000 annual renewal fee.

Contact Details
The Directorate of Offshore Gaming
Division of Gaming
2nd Floor - West Wing
First Caribbean Financial Center
Old Parham Road
P.O. Box 2674, St. John's
Antigua & Barbuda
West Indies
Tel: (268)481-3300
Fax: (268) 481-3305