US online gamblers are able to enjoy quality gaming options at a number of online casinos that are based in the Caribbean. Many of these sites are powered by operators who have made a decision to base their businesses in places such as Curacao and Antigua for regulatory purposes. Some of the Caribbean gambling jurisdictions include Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles (Curacoa), St Kitts and Nevis and the US Virgin Islands.
Playtech, for example, although a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange, bases the majority of its partner online casinos in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. This gambling jurisdiction has sound rules and regulations in place so that bogus online casinos are prevented from obtaining a license. Curacoa based operators will mark their online casinos with a CIGA (Curacoa Internet Gaming Association) symbol, which assures players that all customer issues have to be addressed and fair gaming is offered at all times. Operators need to adhere to tough CIGA rules such as ensuring that no over-18 years olds register at gambling sites and all websites have to have enough funds to pay out winners.
Antigua is another major online gambling hub, currently home to over 100 casinos which are licensed and regulated by the island’s Directorate of Offshore Gaming. Many US facing online gambling sites call Antigua their base, preferring its close proximity to the mainland but also because of its substantial technical infrastructure and strong reputation in the online gambling industry. Antigua was once considered a tax free haven, thereby attracting many online gambling operators; however the introduction of a 3% tax on net winnings rocked the boat a bit. Nevertheless, many operators have stayed on in Antigua, still enjoying a low taxation regime and the significant reduction of licensing fees for casinos and sports books.
The licensing of US offshore online casinos in Antigua and Barbuda is handled by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission’s Division of Gaming and operators have to use software which meets the island’s standards of fairness and have their corporate headquarters in Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua was one of the very first nations to recognize the huge global potential of online gambling and to legalize and regulate the industry. Antigua also shows that it cares for its operators. The island-state filed a formal complaint against the United States with the World Trade Organization regarding the US’s increased action against Caribbean based casino operators. The WTO eventually voted in favor of Antigua, finding the US in violation of international trade treaties.
Another leading online casino operator which has some of its partner sites licensed in Antigua, Curacoa and other Caribbean jurisdictions is Realtime Gaming. Casinos such as Aladdin’s Gold and ClubUSA Casino are licensed in Curacao and offer US players excellent products, highly entertaining games with top rewards and the security of a solid platform which takes matters of fair play, transparency and easy payment methods very seriously.
