E-gaming regulators have defended their jetsetting round of business trips, which has seen them stay in five-star luxury around the world.

Details of the Gambling Supervision Commission’s business trips over the last three years have been revealed following a Freedom of Information request.

They show its officials have been on some 38 business trips since October 2014, to destinations including Sydney, Johannesburg, Philadelphia and Berlin.

The FoI response has revealed that GSC officials stayed in hotels in the States, Switzerland, Peru, Denmark, Malta, Gibraltar, Australia and South Africa over the past three years, mainly for regulator conferences.

For example, last month chief executive Steve Brennan and chairman Ron Spencer each stayed for five nights in a king room at the five-star D’oreale Grande at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg.

In October last year, the chief executive and deputy chief executive Mark Rutherford stayed at the four-star Park Royal Darlington, Sydney, for a five-day business conference. And in April 2015, the chief executive and a director stayed for two nights at the five-star Lausanne Palace in Lausanne, Switerland.

The chief executive stayed for three nights at the five-star Kempinski Hotel, in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius in November 2014 and again for a further five nights in May 2015, as didthe deputy chief executive.

Mr Rutherford told the Manx Independent: ’We get a lot of "bang for our buck" when we travel and there are wider beneficiaries when we attend these events.’

He explained: ’Firstly, I’d like to clarify that we don’t tend to choose the hotels we stay in when we attend conferences.

’When we pay for a conference, the cost of that conference almost always includes the accommodation. The venue is chosen by the host nation and the organisers are usually very keen to showcase their country in the best possible light and that of course dictates their choice of hotel.

’Because it’s block-booked by the organisers (specifically to reduce the costs of the event), the costs to us include delegate discounts so we don’t pay the same prices as individuals might (when on honeymoon or a getaway etc).’

Mr Rutherford said that GSC’s travel costs for 2016-17 were about £17,000, which equates to 1% of its total revenue.

And he pointed out the commission’s annual reports show there has been a consistent 20% reduction year on year in travel expenditure - from £27,290 to £22,375 last year and £22,375 to £17,987 this year.

He added: ’We are a net contributor to Treasury. Last year we contributed £1.1m to general revenue and this year we will be contributing just over £690,000.

’One of the roles we play at these conferences is to correct negative perceptions of the Isle of Man that the media sometimes creates and to demonstrate that the Isle of Man is committed to good business that is well-regulated.

’The relationships we build also indirectly benefit our global licensees. Some jurisdictions don’t really understand how online gambling can be successfully regulated and we help them understand how it can be achieved.’

Chief executive Steve Brennan is also currently chairman of the Gaming Regulators’ European Forum.

And the Isle of Man co-chairs, with France, the International Association of Gambling Regulator’s working group on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism.

’This is a global forum of gambling regulators and we are recognised by this international community as highly experienced in this crucial area of regulation,’ said Mr Rutherford.

’We also give valuable assistance to other countries. We currently have three inquiries from jurisdictions that are setting up regulation of their own and who have sought the benefit of our experience and insight.

’We can play a key role in helping these jurisdictions understand the complexities of regulation and the solutions that can be implemented to make it safer for consumers and jurisdictions.’