Sportech PLC, owner of Littlewoods Gaming is moving its online casino (www.littlewoodscasino.com) from the Isle of Man to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles so that it can offer more games to its players. A formal announcement was made today.
Suzanne Judge, head of corporate communication for Sportech, said the regulations in the Isle of Man , "precluded us from offering person-to-person poker games and integrated jackpot games, so therefore we've moved to a jurisdiction where we will be able to offer those games."
The transfer to Netherlands Antilles should be completed around mid September. Cryptologic will remain the software provider for Littlewoods casino, and the new poker and jackpot games are expected to launch within the next few months.
Littlewoodscasino has stated that it will still refrain from marketing and offering bets to U.S. players.
Littlewoods Leisure, one of England's oldest gaming companies, was founded in 1923 and in 2000 became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sportech PLC. Littlewoods was among the first of three companies awarded an online casino license through the Isle of Man in 2001. Its online casino went live in May 2002.
The Isle of Man has now lost all three of its original licensees and has lost more within the last year.
Despite the recent departures, the Gaming Control Board says it is still very much open for business and is looking to license more operators.
The Isle of Man's Gaming Control Board will publish a formal press statement Friday.