John Shimmin, Minister for Economic Development on the Isle of Man, pointed to the island’s e-gaming industry as a key component of the island’s future.
Shimmin said in a budget address that his department will continue to push for further growth in the online gaming industry.
“The Isle of Man continues to perform well in what remains a challenging global economy,” he said. “Last year the government forecast that our economy would grow by up to 4 percent in 2013/14 and the evidence to date indicates that this will be achieved. We now expect we will maintain this level of growth in 2014/15, and that this trend will continue in the run up to 2020, with the e-Business sector being a key driver.”
E-Business is the fastest growing element in the island economy at over 10 percent a year and accounts for around 14 percent of national income and 1,500 jobs.
One area of growth the Isle of Man may be looking at is the U.S.
The Government has issued a letter of recognition and support to the Tribal Internet Gaming Alliance in the U.S.
TIGA is an inter-tribal treaty organization open to all federally recognized tribes and Alaskan Native Villages. The organization has two member tribes that have ratified the TIGA Treaty—the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians; and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
The Island’s letter discusses the possibility of the Isle of Man and TIGA entering into inter-jurisdictional agreements regarding internet gaming.
The TIGA Treaty Council responded saying “thank-you” to the Government of the Isle of Man and that it “looks forward to a long and productive international relationship for the mutual benefit of our governments.”
