Online Gambling Arbitration Has Antigua and Barbuda Waiting Again

Antigua and Barbuda was expecting a decision from the WTO panel this month concerning the $3.4 billion compensation claim that they filed against the U.S. for their online gambling policy. The WTO announced a delay in that decision today until December 14th.

The claim went to an arbitration panel when the two nations were unable to come up with a solution on their own, Antigua and Barbuda wanting $3.4 billion and the U.S. countering with a $500,000 offer.

When the ruling finally comes out, it will determine what compensation the nation of Antigua and Barbuda will receive, what sanction it can impose on the U.S. and if they will be allowed to gain compensation through the suspension of U.S. intellectual property rights.

During a presentation to the World Trade Organization’s Trade Policy Review for the members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Minister of Finance and the Economy Dr. Errol Cort stressed that the recent actions of the U.S., “undermines the credibility of the WTO system and may seem to prove what some developing countries have feared; that the system only works to the benefit of the countries that are rich, large or powerful.”

Dr. Cort later pledged the continued commitment of Antigua and Barbuda even though the tiny nation has, “limited financial, human, technical and other resources, all of which exacerbate the challenge of implementing WTO agreements.”

As far as the actual arbitration was going, Mark Mendel, attorney for Antigua and Barbuda said, “We are in very good shape, this arbitration is proceeding nicely, and we’ve done a very good job.”
Though delays and revisions of deadlines are quite common for WTO due to scheduling conflicts and trying to get all parties on equal ground, Mendel stated, “I think it’s presenting them with more problems than they expected, although why they didn’t expect more problems I don’t understand.”

Despite the delays, the small nation is preparing for a favorable decision, “We haven’t fully and completely flushed out precisely what we’re going to do or how we’re going to do it. There is no rush to do it. I think once we get it, it’ll be a pretty big weapon in our hands and we can take our time in deciding how to apply it,” said Mendel.

Play Now

100% up to $3,000 Bonus

Bovada is our most recommended ONLINE CASINO and POKER ROOM for US players with excellent deposit options. Get your 100% signup bonus today.