Don't F*** With The Isle of Man

Isle of Man residents took umbrage at Gambling911.com's recent depiction of the island nation just 60 miles off the United Kingdom coast as a "dark and dreary place where nobody would ever want to live".

The article was in response to the reported closure of Ascot Sports, an online sportsbook that claims to have been undergoing maintenance over the last six days.  The Isle of Man licenses the online gambling firm but news has surfaced that Ascot's owner has left the industry.  On Tuesday, The Isle of Man insisted that they were engaged in dialog with Malaysian tycoon Vincent Tan. 

Garth Kimber, the head of e-gaming in the Isle of Man government Department of Trade and Industry, said:

"It is a commercial business decision by the parent company to stop operating in the On-Line gambling arena.

"The company is having daily dialog with the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission who are ensuring that player funds are being returned to the players as part of an orderly withdrawal from the industry.

"At present there are no major identifiable problems with the process. The Gambling Commission will continue to liaise with the company and monitor the situation."

Meanwhile, angry residents of the Isle of Man lashed out at Gambling911.com Tuesday.

"Your article attempts to sully the people, beliefs, politics, life style and beauty of the Island all in one article," said Isle of Man resident Gary Christian.  "At present there are approx 80,000 people including true Manxies and other diverse cultures and races-all living harmoniously on this "rock" as you put it."

Mr. Christian corrected us in regard to our reference of the Isle of Man as "Mannin".

"The island isn't "also known as Mannin", it is known as Ellan Vannin, Mannin is or was a local Manx/Norse deity known to reside on the Island, known to repel all invaders and protect the island from harm."

And dreary weather?

Certainly not on Tuesday. 

Resident Mark Atherton wrote in, advising us that "I am writing this (email) whilst sitting at my desk being bathed in glorious sunshine just before I go out and meet a couple of friends for lunch on one of the Isle of Man's recently redeveloped quaysides."

Mr. Atherton understood where some of the perceptions were coming from, however.

"In regard to not being a place that anyone would ever want to live, it's a media thing. So many publications appear ready to add to the insults of the Island, yet so few do so with any real knowledge of that which they would ridicule."

There is one thing few would disagree with in regard to the article and the Isle of Man: The remarks related to the nation's virtual zero unemployment rate, which has made staffing nearly impossible for online gambling enterprises.

Mr. Atherton writes: "Whilst it is true that successful Government legislation and Private Investment has resulted in low unemployment which can cause some (not many) difficulties in attracting staff, I would argue the point that the Isle of Man IS a place where many people WOULD want to live. The biggest single obstacle to attracting new residents is that demand for housing outstrips the supply by a considerable margin. In other words too many people want to live here."

"virtual zero unemployment!" lashed out Mr. Christian.  "AND also virtual zero crime!!!a place where you can still leave your doors unlocked without fear, a strong economy and the ability to approach and see your MHK (parliamentary representative) at a moments notice-as they usually live down the road."

As for those fairies that we reported live in the Isle of Man.  That one we got right, according to Gary Christian.

"The fairies do reside here on the island-in a quaint part of the island known as the fairy bridge, people from far and wide come to ask for help, as in ages past so did people in other countries-including your own (the United States)."

And we could probably all use some helpful fairies right about now the way the US economy is going. 

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com

Originally published May 13, 2008 11:22 pm EST