Alderney gambling is a safe bet for global marketplace

REGULATION of the internet gambling industry in Alderney brings much-needed diversification to the Bailiwick's economy, according to the head of the island's gambling control commission.

Andre Wilsenach was appointed chief executive of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission in 2002, and has since then overseen the creation of a world-class regulatory environment that has attracted some of the world's largest gaming and gambling companies such as Sportingbet, Skybet, Virtue Fusion and Virgin Games.

In 2006, the AGCC had an average of 21 licences. This increased to 29 in 2007, 40 in 2008, and now stands at 46 in 2009.

Where Alderney differs from other jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man or Malta is that companies who want a licence do not need to relocate staff to the island.

But that does not mean the criteria companies have to meet to gain a licence is any less stringent.

Mr Wilsenach, who was speaking at the Chamber of Commerce lunch yesterday alongside consultant Robin Le Prevost, who promotes the jurisdiction on behalf of the States of Alderney, said the commission had four key objectives it stuck to, to ensure the highest standards of regulation were adhered to when granting a licence.

These were that the:

• funding and management of an operation was free from criminal influence

• operational systems were secure and auditable

• gambling transaction was fair, and

• interests of the young and vulnerable were protected

Mr Wilsenach said the steps and checks taken to ensure these four objectives were met were extremely rigorous.

They should give the islands' communities comfort that the AGCC was protecting the reputation of not only Alderney, which is the brand under which the jurisdiction was being promoted, but that of the Bailiwick of Guernsey as a whole.