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Could it End?

Just days away at this point, Antiguan representatives and the United States Trade Representatives (USTR) will all gather for a resolution meeting in Washington DC on May 23, 2008. The small island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has been in dispute with the U.S. over its restrictive online casino gambling policy for several years. The debate increased in intensity in November of 2006 when the U.S. passed the Controversial UIGEA legislation. More than a year and a half later it seems that the USTR and Antigua may come to an agreement – and without continued arbitration from the World Trade Oraganisation (WTO).

The two sides have agreed to meet and continue negotiations on this online casino gambling issue face-to-face with an anticipated resolution no later than June 6, 2008. If the Antiguan delegation, including the Antiguan Finance Minister Dr. Errol Cort, and the USTRs cannot come to an agreement by that date, the WTO will continue arbitration on the case. The U.S. has wholly blocked offshore and foreign online casinos from operating in the U.S. even though the UIGEA does provide some forms of legislative carve-outs for in-state internet betting, and fantasy sports leagues.

The two countries are facing increased pressure to find a resolution to the issue without involving the WTO, and without resulting in Antigua using its more than $20 millions in trade sanctions granted by the WTO as recompense. Both the U.S. and Antigua have passed several proposals between the two countries in attempts to resolve the online casino gambling dispute, and while the proposals have been rejected from both sides, neither side has released any of the content of the proposals. Undoubtedly Antigua is looking for agreements that would allow the country access to the U.S. online casinos market.