An agreement between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States (US) on compensation for America’s withdrawal from World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade obligations has faced a second delay. According to Mark Mendel, the attorney representing Antigua and Barbuda at the WTO, there has been an agreement to extend the time-frame for resolution of negotiations between the two countries until 14 Dec. The negotiations were originally scheduled to be completed in September, but were first extended to October and now into December.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has announced that the process of working out fair compensation for nations impacted by the withdrawal of the United States from treaty obligations on gambling will continue this week at a hearing scheduled for today in Geneva. The meeting in Switzerland will feature a WTO panel hearing verbal submissions from both the US and Antigua and Barbuda Governments, both of which will get the chance to pose questions based on the arguments raised by both sides regarding compensation.

The government of the United States has made its first compensation offer to the European Union (EU) following its withdrawal from World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations, according to the Financial Times newspaper. The recent newspaper report claims that European gambling groups are currently pressing the EU to reject as inadequate the American compensation offer for losses suffered when the US passed its Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) legislation last year restricting online betting.

The United States continues to resist compliance with a World Trade Organization ruling regarding the double standards inherent in US online gambling regulations. In addition to reaching settlement with Antigua, the US will also have to negotiate settlements with several other countries. The Antigua Sun printed excerpts of an interview with an official from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office which outlined the basic US strategy for resisting the ruling.

Today, former New York Senator Alfonse D'Amato, chairman of the Poker Players Alliance, released the statement below. The former Senator's comments are in response to the European Union's support of Antigua's ruling against the United States and claim for compensation based on the U.S.'s violation of its World Trade Organization commitments.

Geneva: The tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda slammed the United States over its illegal restrictions on Internet gambling sites based overseas and asked other countries to join in seeking compensation from Washington for its failure to comply with global trade rules. Antigua, the smallest country to successfully litigate a case in the World Trade Organization's 12-year-history.

Auch PayPal, Moneybook oder Prepaid haben zwischenzeitlich mit diesem Geschäft aufgehört. Paypal wurde von ebay übernommen. Ebay beendete das Gaming Geschäft auf Druck amerikanischer Senatoren. Da sich der Umsatz gegenüber ebay nur bei 3% lag, war es für das Unternehmen keine Frage, dieses Gaming Geschäft auf zu geben. Zumal man es sich auch mit der amerikanischen Regierung nicht unbedingt verscherzen wollte. Wie lukrativ aber der Markt über solche Zahlungsmittel ist zeigt der Gesamtumsatz, der bei ca. 4 – 6 Billionen USD liegt.

Dass Antigua eine der bekanntesten Adressen für Onlinecasinos in den Medien ist, dürfte unumstritten sein. Waren es zu Beginn der Ära unter Lester Bird noch über 148 Onlinecasinos Lizenznehmer, sind es heute noch gerade ca. 50 Betreiber.

Zusammen mit der "Schwesterinsel" Barbuda und dem unbewohnten Felsen Redonda macht Antigua den Staat "Antigua und Barbuda" aus. Antiguas Fläche beträgt etwa 280 km², Barbuda hat etwa 160 km². Insgesamt hat der Staat etwa 70.000 Einwohner, von denen rund 1.500 auf Barbuda und über 40.000 in St. John's, der Hauptstadt, wohnen.

Dans les jours qui suivent, ISA-CASINOS va publier les conclusions de leur recherche sur les casinos en ligne d’Antigua et dans les Caraïbes. Inclus sera des entretiens avec le Consul Honoraire de Colombie et l'ancien Premier Ministre d’Antigua. M. Lester Bird maintenant dirigent est a la tête du parti d'opposition gouvernementale - "Antigua Labour Party".

In the coming days, ISA-CASINOS is going to publish the findings of their in depth research about online casinos in Antigua and the Caribbean. Included will be interviews with the Honorary Consul of Colombia and the former Prime Minister Lester Bird, who is now the leader of the opposition and the head of the “Antigua Labour Party” which previously governed Antigua.

Die ISA-CASINOS wird in den nächsten Tagen ihre Recherche über Online Casinos in Antigua und der Karibik veröffentlichen. Unter anderem wird sie auch Interviews mit der Konsulin aus Kolumbien und dem ehemaligen Präsidenten Lester Bryant Bird, dem jetzigen Oppositionsführer der Labour Partei, der die Insel Antigua Jahre regierte, veröffentlichen.