WILL THE VIRGIN ISLANDS BE A NEW HOT SPOT IN THE FUTURE FOR ASPIRING SPORTSBOOKS??
It appears that the US Virgin Islands is up and working as a licensing jurisdiction with the appointment of their first hosting licensee.
USVI Host Inc. has received approval from the US Virgin Islands’ Casino Control Commission (CCC) to set up in St. Croix a hosting facility for Internet gambling in the US Virgin Islands.
The company is now licensed and free to provide a server and host facilities for operators that want to provide Internet gaming. While USVI Host has apparently no current plans of operating online gambling sites, it will provide a secure Internet server and hosting facility for gambling site operators.
Getting the license wasn't easy. After a six-month background investigation into the company, it was asked to deposit a surety bond of $100,000 with the USVI government. The operators were also required to pay the government a non-refundable application fee of $4,000 valid for two years, and a licensing fee of $2,000.
Not everyone on the Commission was keen to issue the first license. CCC member Imelda Dizon is quoted as saying, "A bill is pending in the US Congress that would exempt the USVI from any law banning Internet gambling. I voted reluctantly to approve this application, but the matter should be placed on moratorium until it is definitely found to be legal in the US.'
It appears that the US Virgin Islands is up and working as a licensing jurisdiction with the appointment of their first hosting licensee.
USVI Host Inc. has received approval from the US Virgin Islands’ Casino Control Commission (CCC) to set up in St. Croix a hosting facility for Internet gambling in the US Virgin Islands.
The company is now licensed and free to provide a server and host facilities for operators that want to provide Internet gaming. While USVI Host has apparently no current plans of operating online gambling sites, it will provide a secure Internet server and hosting facility for gambling site operators.
Getting the license wasn't easy. After a six-month background investigation into the company, it was asked to deposit a surety bond of $100,000 with the USVI government. The operators were also required to pay the government a non-refundable application fee of $4,000 valid for two years, and a licensing fee of $2,000.
Not everyone on the Commission was keen to issue the first license. CCC member Imelda Dizon is quoted as saying, "A bill is pending in the US Congress that would exempt the USVI from any law banning Internet gambling. I voted reluctantly to approve this application, but the matter should be placed on moratorium until it is definitely found to be legal in the US.'
