St. John's, Antigua.
The Governments of Antigua & Barbuda and the United States have moved into a new stage of talks on their long-running dispute over access to the US internet gaming market.
This dispute has led both countries taking each other to the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body, which has ruled in favuor of Antigua & Barbuda.
Ambassador at Large in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Colin Murdoch recently told the media the US and Antigua & Barbuda are engaged in talks that appear to be heading in the direction of an eventual settlement of the matter to the satisfaction of both parties.
According Ambassador Murdoch, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda had engaged in talks with “several members of Congress” on the matter and several pieces of legislation” were currently wending their way through Congress, which could positively affect the environment under which future negotiations will be conducted.
Several US states, notably Nevada, are taking an extensive look at the internet gaming industry, and it is within the realm of possibility that Antigua & Barbuda might eventually be able to secure access to the internet gaming market established by some of these states, the ambassador said.
In the meantime though, Antigua & Barbuda’s strategic objective continues to be the full opening of the US internet gaming market to overseas access as enjoyed by locally-based operators prior to the closure of the US market.
Ambassador Murdoch noted that the US$21 million in annual compensation awarded by the WTO Disputes Settlement Board would run indefinitely, until the two parties achieved settlement of the dispute. He also observed that it is possible for parties to arrive at a transfer of compensation by a combination of agreed mechanisms other than direct financial payments.
