‘Cash in on global e-gaming boom’
Tuesday 16th March 2010, 3:01PM GMT.
Ladbrokes is just one of the companies whose services are hosted by Guernsey
PROPOSALS to set up computer-based gambling in the Island would lead to significant private investment in Jersey’s internet infrastructure, according to Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean.
He wants the States to let the new Gambling Commission set up a regulatory framework for e-gaming, which he says would diversify the economy and lead to investment in the Island’s infrastructure capability.
The UK e-gaming market is expected to be worth almost £11 billion a year by 2012, and Guernsey is already benefiting from hosting major companies including Virgin, Sky, Ladbrokes, Gala and Sega.
Senator Maclean says that the States should back the proposals to regulate e-gaming because Islanders are currently free to use e-gaming sites, but a regulator would levy a ‘social responsibility charge’ and do more to educate and help people with gambling addictions.
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Yet another one of those happy proposals that will go nowhere like the third supermarket operator, the casine now entering its second century of debates and many others while the States address key issues like their free sandwiches, bicycle licensing and before the year is out doubtless another pointless and acrimonious debate on the Esplanade Quarter.
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About time too. Finally some diversification if and when its passed. Wont be holding my breath though as I would imagine it will take years and many debates and re drafts of legislation etc.
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This is positive news. We unfortunately have a rather unenterprising government who take too much time to debate and subsequently refuse economic diversification. A lucrative film industry and new cruise ship business are two examples that spring to mind. This is good news for Jersey’s economy. Pip Clement hits the nail on the head.
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The States really need to get their fingers out PDQ incase we miss the boat. There are plenty of other jurisdictions who already are heavily into e-gaming.
Even Malta is doing quite nicely out of it too.
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Yes go for it. Jersey has been aiding and abetting tax dodgers, money launderers and criminals for decades, so why worry about the ethics of online gambling?
For anybody who is offended by the above statement, believe me, I have hundreds of documents proving this to be the case. And anybody who thinks differently, is categorically wrong.
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Internet infrastructure, what? Would that be the same one that cant offer me an 8mb line because i live more than 200m from a cab? the same service that the states blocked an outside contractor, Colt Telecom one of europe’s biggest internet infrastructure cable laying services, coming into the island and laying fibre optic cable, because it would give the opportunity to non states back interests to offer decently priced high speed services. We could all be running 50mb optic lines for our homes and businesses but so the states 51% share in the local isp has a strangle hold and will only offer us 8mb for the highest rates in the UK…
Are they going to let the online casino lay there own cables so they can compete??
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Long overdue, why oh why didn’t they do this any of the times it’s been suggested before??
@ Jon James #5
“Yes go for it. Jersey has been aiding and abetting tax dodgers, money launderers and criminals for decades, so why worry about the ethics of online gambling?…”
You make it sound like a bad thing; what you’re saying is just sensationalist rubbish.
If you have the documentation, like you claim, of illegal activity publish it; or do you not really believe it would prove what you imply?
I’m mildly offended by your statement. I think differently and I’m not wrong by the way, and can prove this too; I shall wait for you to set your full case first however.
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Well said J Lamborrari – Jon James is blatantly talking utter rubbish. On a daily basis I see firsthand the huge amount of due diligence that Jersey banks are legally obliged to obtain for any potential customers, and there’s no way that the guy has got “hundreds of documents proving” his incorrect statements – this simply does not happen here. Obviously there will be the very occasional blip that will slip through the net, but “hundreds” – come off it. The banks and trust companies are too heavily regulated for that.
Go on Jon James, publish even just one of these doucments and prove us all wrong.
BTW…casino debate again..?! Deja vu anyone?
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jerseyjim
DSL lines start to degrade from anything over 2km from the equipment not 200m. As for Colt telecom laying fibre to the door again utter rubbish. It would cost into the high millions. Besides that has actually nothing to do with the ability to provide high quality infrastructure to the gaming or gambling industry.
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