Antigua & Barbuda To Sue US Over Internet Gaming Losses

by Amanda Banks, Tax-News.com, London

03 March 2003

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced that it will be taking the US government before the Grievance Committee of the World Trade Organisation for restraining and interfering with the jurisdiction's once burgeoning online gaming and sports book industry.

Speaking to the local media last week, Prime Minister Lester Bird revealed that:

'I would say that we have lost about US$30 million as a result of the constant attack upon the industry by members of the US Congress, the Leach Bill, the Kyle Bill, and the taking on board by the US government in preventing corresponding banks to deal and operate with these different activities which we feel are particularly legitimate.'

He continued:

'America is the largest gambling country in the world so how can they then be so unctuously self-righteous, to use their power to destroy the niches that we are having, trying to develop some kind of diversification in our economy. It is unfair and therefore we are going to take them before the WTO.'

The Prime Minister also announced that, as a result of recent US legislation and actions, over 80% of the internet gaming and sports book companies have left the jurisdiction.

Recommended