Antigua has proposed new rules and taxes for online gambling operators that unfortunately could have the opposite effect of what the government hopes to achieve.

The Antiguan government’s Financial Services Regulatory Commission held a Gaming Sector Meeting last Thursday, which was attended by four of the eight companies currently licensed to operate online gambling in the country.

The government has proposed a new Gambling Act of 2016 that is primarily aimed at regulating land-based casinos, although the 2007 Interactive Gaming and Wagering Regulations will be folded into the 2016 Act.

A new Gambling Authority Division will be established to handle licensing and monitoring of all gambling on the island, including the online sector. The government proposes to introduce “an appropriate monitoring system and mandate monthly reports and/or data,” with the “reasonable costs” of this monitoring to be borne by the licensees.