RSSCaribbean Internet Gaming thumbing their nose at US Law
So much for the Caribbean countries respecting the new internet gaming law passed in the US. I guess they feel it does not pertain to them, Briton in Curacao continues firmly with internet gaming.
CURACAO/LONDON — Despite the American’s ban on internet gaming, the Briton Alistair Assheton continues firmly with offering online gaming and casinos.Â
As the Amigoe reported last Friday, the American president George Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGE Act) that prohibits banks and credit card companies to transfer money to internet companies that are involved with gambling.
Assheton said in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph: “This is certainly a big disappointment for the sector. But internet is still going strong and so is gambling; people still want to do both. The question is more how than if.”
When he was asked on how he thinks to collect the payments of American residents, which is in breach with the American law, he said:Â “There are ways”, and with that he refers to the fact that many gamblers have a foreign account.
The Daily Telegraph reports that in Curacao, Assheton belongs to a growing group of entrepreneurs in the Caribbean that are determined to continue firmly with accepting bets from the US. As director in a management team buy-out of his former mother company Leisure & Gaming, he bought all US-activities for the symbolic amount of one dollar. The company says that with this transaction, it had saved 6 million dollars (costs in connection with the closing of the company), and also 300 jobs in Curacao, Antigua, and Costa Rica. These three countries are the most popular ones in the online gaming industry. “He says that he is not afraid of being arrested and that he hopes that he can continue accepting US bets, because he thinks that he is outside the jurisdiction of the United States”, reports The Daily Telegraph.Â
At least two internet gaming companies sold their American activities for the symbolic amount of one dollar last week. One of them was sold to Alistair Assheton, who is operating from Curacao for some years already. The Daily Telegraph reported this in England.  Several big concerns withdrew from the American market, like PartyGaming, Empire Online, and 888. Sportingbet sold her activities for one dollar to Jazette Enterprises, a vehicle for a management buy-out with establishments in Costa Rica.
According to the British press agency Reuters that is closely following the developments around the anti-internet gaming act, there are approximately 2700 gaming websites worldwide. About 170 of these have indicated that they are planning to keep out American bets. The worldwide turnover of internet gaming is 12 milliard dollars by now, of which one-third to 50 percent come from the United States. How much comes from Curacao is not known. The new act makes the transfer of money from American banks and credit card companies to internet gaming companies, illegal, even though they are established in foreign countries and have a permit to do this in those countries. (Amigoe)
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10 Responses to “Caribbean Internet Gaming thumbing their nose at US Law”
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I guess they feel they don’t have to listen to the USA.
I am surprised that the big casinos in Vegas
are not more aggressive with this ban -
They are the ones who should be concerned since
the people who once flew to Vegas to gamble are now
able to kick back at home and play poker or blackjack -
The problem is with what I call the enablers -
the money “middle-men” like firepay – the banks do not recognize them as Internet gaming charges and are
allowing the charges to go through !
nychic, Vegas has more people come there then EVER before. People thought all of these casinos in other states and online gambling would hurt Vegas. The opposite happened. More and more people want to go to Vegas. They want to see the BIG TIME. They get hooked on gambling on-line or in one of their casinos and want to go see the LIGHTS. Vegas is doing GREAT. Don’t worry about Vegas!!
What the U.S. can do is monitor who’s playing and act against them. I don’t imagine the Aruba Mafia are going to be giving a hoot about our laws. Sadly, there are always people who will ignore the law … let’s hope we put some priority on going after them.
richard, That would be great but our police have more important things to do !!!
Gretamal you are one F***ING piece of work! Stay off these boards. All you do is cause disruption, dissention, anger and resentment, but then again I think that is your goal. Go away and don’t f***ing come back! You POS!!!
kelmal -
(i am still a fan of Greta – therefore i cannot
acknowledge your name change)
I realize that Vegas is doing well – as there
are many things to do there in addition to
just gambling – it has become a destination
with something for everyone -
(imo – The Wynn has the best hotel rooms in Vegas)
I just feel like the online gambling world is
a dark and dangerous path that can lead to
the destruction of lives – gambling should
be a social fun activity -
nychic, You are RIGHT. Greta is the BEST. Never been to the Wynn. Stayed at Belagio last time. That was BEAUTIFUL.
Well, better the thumb than the index.
carpe, LOL !!! Better the thumb than the middle !!