Sportsbooks based in the Isle of Man remain unable to accept bets from the US despite the recent policy change on the island that opened up the market to casino and poker operators.
John Gilmore, eGaming ambassador to the Isle of Man’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTi), told eGaming Review the decision was taken as the island was conscious of not wanting to contravene any US federal laws.
“We will not extend the policy to sports betting, because the Wire Act prohibits sports betting across states in the US,” Gilmore said.
“But as there is no federal law against poker or casinos we will accept those types of bets from US citizens.”
It will come as a blow to Isle of Man-based operator Betinternet, whose chairman Denham Eke told shareholders the firm would hope to capitalise on the policy change this year.
There are no casino or poker operators on the Isle of Man at the time of writing, but Costa Rica-based Poker Stars is expected to move to the domicile within the next two months.
The Isle of Man reversed its policy on prohibiting US bets at the end of December, but Tim Craine from the DTi said this did not mean the island would be pushing itself as a US-friendly jurisdiction.
“We are not going to be actively going out there and marketing the island as a jurisdiction where the taking of US bets is legal,” Craine said.
“In fact we will be advising any licensees to take their own legal advice if they do indeed take bets from the US.”
source : egaming review magazine
