Decision in Antigua-US gaming dispute may be announced soon
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| Published on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 |
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By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
ST JOHN’S, Antigua: A decision in the long drawn-out gaming dispute between Antigua and the United States may be announced soon.
Attorney for Antigua and Barbuda, Mark Mendel, said that negotiations between Antigua and Barbuda and the US have been ongoing as a result of a challenge made by the Antiguan government to the United States government concerning the implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).
The Act prohibits the transfer of funds from a financial institution (banks, credit unions) to any non-US Internet gambling site with notable exceptions including fantasy sports, online lotteries and horseracing.
This Act effectively barred gaming companies in Antigua from interacting with the lucrative US market and crippled those in the industry that held Antigua-originated licences.
According to an article appearing in the Antigua Sun, the twin-island state claimed that the Act was a direct violation of obligations that the US has with the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The WTO upheld the claim, which later resulted in attempts by the US to shirk its obligations.
In a surprising twist, the European Union (EU) online gambling companies appear to be gearing up to challenge the UIGEA as well.
The European Commission started an investigation after the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) claimed it was being excluded from the US online gaming market.
The Antigua Sun newspaper reported that if a formal complaint is put forward to the WTO, it could mean a payout of millions of dollars in trade damages by the United States. | | | | Reads : 531 | | | |
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