AGCC external review set for 2012

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has announced plans to “establish an independent, external, review of its actions and processes “In relation to its handling of former licensee Full Tilt Poker (FTP).

The review, which will be carried out by former British Gambling Commission chair Peter Dean, will focus on the actions of the regulator leading up to the suspension and then revocation of three of FTP’s four licences.

The AGCC suspended Full Tilt’s licences on 29 June, before finally revoking those belonging to FTP subsidiaries Filco, Vantage and Oxalic two months later. A fourth Full Tilt company, Orinic, still has its licence suspended

AGCC executive director André Wilsenach (pictured) said in a statement today: “We believe we acted appropriately and fairly at all times but, following our own internal assessment and the inevitable questions that have been raised by third parties, the Commission decided that it is in the best interests of players, licence holders and AGCC itself to commission an independent review and to make the outcome public.”

‘As soon as we became aware that there were possible irregularities in relation to FTP’s operational integrity AGCC acted to discharge fully our statutory obligations,” he explained.

In September, Wilsenach revealed exclusively to eGaming Review that the AGCC was “unaware” of both FTP’s deception and the freezing of funds by the United States Department of Justice.

Since then the executive director has confirmed that the regulatory authority will assist police on player complaints pertaining to Full Tilt Poker, effectively acting as a mediator between relevant parties.

However the AGCC has remained quiet on the matter since early October, its only communication since then being to correct a dollar amount listed in its statement about DoJ seizures.

The commission has requested a final report and recommendations from Dean before the end of March 2012.