ROUND 1 TO ANTIGUA...USA forced to answer to WTO on local gaming
Tuesday July 22 2003
by Natlie S. Fleming
The government of the United States will now have to appear before the World Trade Organization's (WTO) dispute panel to answer charges made by Antigua & Barbuda for loss of earnings to its internet gaming and sports book gaming industry.
Estimated loss of earnings to the government's coffers is US$20 million after a number of Internet gaming and offshore companies fled to other jurisdictions.
This exodus followed the passage of the Leach LaFalce Internet Gambling Enforcement Act by US authorities, which inhibits internet gambling by making it a crime for a gambling businesses to accept credit cards, wire transfers, or any other banking instrument to fund gaming transactions.
Antigua & Barbuda took the US government before the WTO dispute panel to answer charges that the actions taken by the US against Internet gaming and sports books is discriminatory and not fair.
Prime Minister Lester Bird said he feels fantastic with the decision made by the WTO.
"We had asked the WTO to rule in Antigua & Barbuda's favour, in that what the US is doing is contrary to the rules of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trades (GATT) and we made a presentation about three weeks ago," he said, in an interview with the SUN.
"America answered and we responded and today (yesterday) the WTO approved the idea that the US has to go before a dispute panel to answer Antigua & Barbuda's accusation that they are discriminating against us and there is nothing wrong with Internet gaming or sports books," he added.
The prime minister said that as a result of Antigua & Barbuda's action, the European Union, Taipei and several other countries have now lined up to take similar action.
"Before Antigua, they were not prepared to go forward but now that Antigua has gone forward showing our feelings that we have a right to go against the US - all these other countries are now coming on board. So once again Antigua leads in terms of this matter, in terms of international gaming, international finance.
"In fact it is a great victory for Antigua & Barbuda to be able to get the WTO to agree that the US must answer the charges," he said.
Bird recounted that a number of sports books and Internet gaming companies left the country as a result of the US measure and went to other jurisdictions.
"As a result of this, it has damaged Antigua & Barbuda's economy. Over 5000 people were employed in the Internet gaming business. It left a significant, negative effect upon the economy of this country.
"Once the panel meets, on the assumption that we win, then it will be a tremendous victory for Antigua & Barbuda and I can assure you that many other countries in the world will jump on the bandwagon," the prime minister said.
Tuesday July 22 2003
by Natlie S. Fleming
The government of the United States will now have to appear before the World Trade Organization's (WTO) dispute panel to answer charges made by Antigua & Barbuda for loss of earnings to its internet gaming and sports book gaming industry.
Estimated loss of earnings to the government's coffers is US$20 million after a number of Internet gaming and offshore companies fled to other jurisdictions.
This exodus followed the passage of the Leach LaFalce Internet Gambling Enforcement Act by US authorities, which inhibits internet gambling by making it a crime for a gambling businesses to accept credit cards, wire transfers, or any other banking instrument to fund gaming transactions.
Antigua & Barbuda took the US government before the WTO dispute panel to answer charges that the actions taken by the US against Internet gaming and sports books is discriminatory and not fair.
Prime Minister Lester Bird said he feels fantastic with the decision made by the WTO.
"We had asked the WTO to rule in Antigua & Barbuda's favour, in that what the US is doing is contrary to the rules of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trades (GATT) and we made a presentation about three weeks ago," he said, in an interview with the SUN.
"America answered and we responded and today (yesterday) the WTO approved the idea that the US has to go before a dispute panel to answer Antigua & Barbuda's accusation that they are discriminating against us and there is nothing wrong with Internet gaming or sports books," he added.
The prime minister said that as a result of Antigua & Barbuda's action, the European Union, Taipei and several other countries have now lined up to take similar action.
"Before Antigua, they were not prepared to go forward but now that Antigua has gone forward showing our feelings that we have a right to go against the US - all these other countries are now coming on board. So once again Antigua leads in terms of this matter, in terms of international gaming, international finance.
"In fact it is a great victory for Antigua & Barbuda to be able to get the WTO to agree that the US must answer the charges," he said.
Bird recounted that a number of sports books and Internet gaming companies left the country as a result of the US measure and went to other jurisdictions.
"As a result of this, it has damaged Antigua & Barbuda's economy. Over 5000 people were employed in the Internet gaming business. It left a significant, negative effect upon the economy of this country.
"Once the panel meets, on the assumption that we win, then it will be a tremendous victory for Antigua & Barbuda and I can assure you that many other countries in the world will jump on the bandwagon," the prime minister said.
