By Aldeth Lewin From Virgin Islands Daily News

ST. THOMAS – The U.S. Virgin Islands is moving forward to implement Internet gaming as well as exploring other options to expand the gaming industry in the territory, despite the stagnation of resort and casino developments.

The International Masters of Gaming Law is holding its 2015 spring conference at the Marriott’s Frenchman’s Reef Beach Resort this week, bringing in representatives from more than 40 countries to discuss gaming laws and developments across the globe.

At the conference on Monday, Gov. Kenneth Mapp gave the keynote address, which was followed by a panel on the offshore gaming in the Caribbean.

Mapp told the gaming law professionals that the territory’s gaming laws – set up to spur the St. Croix economy by luring hotel development and additional tourism dollars – have not worked as intended and it is time to move into new areas of gaming to bring in revenue.

“It hasn’t worked. The gambling on St. Croix has not affected the economy in any real positive way, that’s just my view,” Mapp said.

He said he supports exploring Internet gaming, something that V.I. Casino Control Commission Chairman Violet Anne Golden also advocates as the next phase of gambling in the territory.

“I have much to learn about Internet gaming, and I plan on doing that,” Mapp said.

Regardless of what form gambling takes, Mapp said he is a supporter of gambling and gaming in the territory.

“It can have tremendous positive impact to the Virgin Islands,” he said.

Golden sat on the panel that took place after Mapp’s keynote address.

She said there are some challenges to moving ahead, but they will be addressed in the near future.

An opinion from the V.I. Attorney General’s office in 2013 found that the old and mostly dormant interstate gambling law in the territory does not conflict with federal rules.

The law on the books would allow for Internet-based gambling, but it needs tweaking, according to the panel discussion.

One of the issues the Casino Control Commission currently is dealing with is the licensing process for two entities that were given a master service agreement by the V.I. Legislature in 2001 when the law was passed.

Nick Pourzal of USVI Host, a St. Thomas company, would serve as a master service provider and provide the technological portals through which online gaming companies can conduct business worldwide.

The other master service provider is St. Croix Internet Group LLC.

Golden said while the master service agreements were given by the Senate, that does not give them an automatic right to operate. They still need to obtain gaming licenses from the Casino Control Commission.

“The Senate cannot guarantee that license,” Golden said.

She said the commission has received an application and is going through the steps, but it needs more information before it is able to give a license.

“We’re awaiting further information,” Golden said.

Golden said she also is talking to V.I. Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett about legalizing sports betting in the territory.

Currently, the only state or territory that has legal sports betting is Nevada. It will take an act of Congress to allow sports betting into the territory.

“If I get only soccer and cricket, that’s OK, I’ll take it,” she said.

She also spoke of wanting to create a regional gaming association to standardize gaming in the Caribbean. She said if an association could work together to bring some uniformity to Caribbean islands regarding gambling, it could bring additional investors and revenue to the region.

Panelist Robert Stocker II, who is working with legalizing and regulating the gaming industry in Trinidad and Tobago, said the Caribbean region should be planning ahead for Cuba.

When Cuba opens up to tourism from the United States, there will be pressure to implement gambling, he said. That will in turn pressure areas, such as the Cayman Islands and Bermuda to enter into the gaming world, according to Stocker.

Gaming in Cuba may not become a reality for 10 or 15 years, so Caribbean islands and territories have time to get a solid, regulated gaming industry in place to compete.

“I think it’s very smart to try and get this thing organized now,” Stocker said. “This is going to be a continued expansion.”

For more on this story go to: http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/conference-looks-at-future-of-gaming-in-v-i-caribbean-1.1856170
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