Casino News: Live Gaming Tournaments Coming to Isle Of Man?

Could the Isle of Man be set to change its online gaming laws? If so, it could allow large live gaming tournaments to be held on the island.

In a bid to create further economic opportunities, the Department of Economic Development is investigating proposals to amend the 1986 Casino Act, and the Gaming Betting and Lotteries Act of 1988.

Such large tournaments can consist of up to 800 players, however, the only casino on the island, the Palace Hotel, is not large enough to host such grand events. The Palace Hotel has been in consultation with the Department in a bid to investigate the possibility of holding tournaments at other venues, which would be granted a temporary licence for the occasion. The Villa Marina in Douglas, is one such property.

The Minister for Economic Development, John Shimmin, said, “the Department has identified an opportunity to be able to attract live gaming tournaments to the island, with all of the associated economic benefits they will bring in terms of increased bed nights, spend in the local economy, and increased passenger numbers on aircraft serving the island. At the present time, the law restricts which venues can be used for such events. The proposed Casino (Amendment) Bill will give the Gambling Supervision Commission the power to be able to grant temporary licences for the event at a wide range of possible venues.”

Recently, a second casino licence was put out for tender by the Isle of Man, which attracted interest from many potential developers and investors. An exciting time for gambling on the Isle of Man – watch this space for more developments.