Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday he would have to confer with the attorney general before making any announcements about the fate of web shop operations in the country.
Christie spoke with reporters briefly after Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett lifted a conservatory order that prevented authorities from stopping web shop gaming.
The prime minister was approached while at a lunchtime function. He said he needed a chance to read the judgment.
"I don't think you can ask me that," he said when asked if police will arrest people in web shops.
"I can not tell you what the responsibility of the police [is]. The police are there to enforce the law, and so if you want to ask the police whether they are going to enforce the law that's what you should do. Obviously, we expect when a judgment is read that after the police have had an opportunity to read the judgment and have the judgment interpreted for them then they will act."
Last week, Crown Counsel Loren Klein said the Office of the Attorney General would prosecute web shop operators if Sir Michael discharged the conservatory order, and they refused to cease gaming.
Klein has said the web shop owners would face "a plethora of offenses".
When asked yesterday if the ruling meant police would shut down web shops immediately, Klein said, "I think the authorities would respect the process of the courts.
"I don't see that happening, certainly not until the Court of Appeal has had a chance to consider the matter."
On January 28, a majority of people who voted in a referendum voted against the establishment of a national lottery and the regulation and taxation of web shops.
The next day, Christie ordered all web shop operators to shut down their gaming operations immediately or face arrest and prosecution.
On January 30, attorneys Wayne Munroe and Alfred Sears, a former attorney general, obtained the conservatory order on behalf of Island Luck, Island Game, Whatfall, FML Group of Companies, Asue Draw, Paradise Games and Chances.
Senior Supreme Court Justice Jon Isaacs granted the conservatory order pending the outcome of the substantive matter on the legality of web shops.
Christie said yesterday his government's position on web shops has not changed. However, he said officials will comply with the decision of the court.
"My position is on the record," he said. "It's been referred to in the case itself.
"Once the court rules clearly on the law there's no confusion as to what is to be expected and if the web shops have been ruled to be an illegal, an illicit activity, then they have to act accordingly."
The attorneys representing the web shops have said they will appeal Sir Michael's ruling.

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