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WAAG: United States: Antiguan Negotiations

There is simply no denying that the United States has a very controversial and much-hated policy regarding the online casino gambling industry in place right now. The international gambling industry has revolted and is demanding a change of policy – that is now trickling down into international politics and the US Trade Representatives are fielding issues and negotiations with the European Union as well as Antigua over the controversial UIGEA. The UIGEA specifically blocks foreign online casinos while still legalizing certain forms of US gambling for only US companies. The protectionism aspect of the laws has angered not only Antigua and the EU, but the Word Trade Organization has weighed in on the situation and demanded that the US alter the policies which violate international trade agreements.

The fact that the WTO has, several times, ruled against the US in this online casino gambling issue should speak pretty clearly about the state of gambling in the US right now and the effectiveness and fairness of the gambling policies. Antigua has a very strong claim against the US government because the Antiguan economy was nearly wholly reliant on the US internet gambling industry to keep the country afloat. The protectionist policies though, regarding online casinos, have crushed the Antiguan market to the point that the WTO awarded Antigua $21 million in trade dispensations. Antigua has not yet used those trade allowances but is currently in the long and ineffective negotiation process with US Trade Representatives and other US officials.

There is a high hope in Antigua that if the country play’s by the US’ rules for long enough the UIGEA will be neutralized and then Antigua will be in the US’ good graces and be welcomed back into the US online casino gambling industry.