The Division of Gaming is the regulatory body under the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) responsible for the oversight of all aspects of the Offshore Gaming industry in the jurisdiction of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda was one of the first jurisdictions to license interactive gaming and wagering companies in 1994. The internet gaming companies are classified as “Financial Institutions” and are subject to all the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) requirements of the jurisdiction. The regulatory framework for these companies has been provided in the International Business Corporations (IBC) Act and the Interactive Gaming and Interactive Wagering Regulations (IGIWR).Today, FSRC, Division of Gaming continues to be home to a significant portion of the industry and some of the largest i-gaming companies due to our pursuit of being a tier one regulatory jurisdiction.

Antigua and Barbuda has been very proactive in regulating the offshore gaming through its IGIWR that enforces corporate probity and international best practices. The Division of Gaming is committed to ensuring that Antigua and Barbuda is internationally regarded as a Tier 1 jurisdiction of choice, and its regulations and regulatory enforcement remain first rate. The jurisdiction’s regulatory regime comprises a three pronged focus on "Money Laundering Prevention", "Player Protection" and "Industry Enhancement". All gaming activities within the State are subject to the Money Laundering Prevention Act (MLPA) and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA, 2001).

Antigua and Barbuda , achieved an historical milestone as a developing nation and most notably as one of the smallest members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on March 24, 2004. The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the WTO yielded a victorious ruling regarding the United States – Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services. Conjunctively, the Appellate Body of the WTO affirmed the DSB findings when it ruled on April 7, 2005 in favour of Antigua and Barbuda in its Appellate Report. This triumph emboldens the desire of the WTO, whereby to facilitate the increase in participation of developing countries in trade and services and the expansion of their service exports. Additionally, the ruling in a general context can be viewed as taking into account, the need for developing countries to improve their economic and social development through the liberalization of trade in services. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to the advancement of the internet gaming sector and remains proactive in solidifying its position as a contender in such a dynamic industry.

In an effort to ensure the industry remains in conformity with the international best practices we amended the IGIWR in May 2001, to have our gaming companies establish clear internal procedures regarding “Know Your Customer”. In addition, all gaming companies are required to have their accounts audited by external auditors who also have to certify their solvency, safety and soundness, player protection and compliance with AML/CFT regime in Antigua and Barbuda.