ANTIGUAN PRESS CONFERENCE ON U.S. SITUATION SOON

(626) (7-October-2006)

Major online gambling companies and Antiguan licensing authority to speak Monday on US legislative action

Earlier reports that top online gambling executives were visiting the Caribbean licensing jurisdiction of Antigua this week (see earlier InfoPowa bulletins) assumed more significance Friday with the announcement that the government plans a major press conference on Monday October 9.

Antigua's director of gaming, Kaye MacDonald , says the government hopes to show that recent American legislation contradicts the World Trade Organisation ruling against the United States in regards to online gaming. Officials will attempt to explain in detail the inconsistency and inapplicability of the proposed Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act , which is currently before the US President for signing into law.
 
A number of leading e-gaming operators and legal experts are reported to be traveling to Antigua and Barbuda to help organise and formulate their support for the Antiguan initiative to highlight the worsening conflict with World Trade Organisation rulings created by the latest American political moves.

For several years the islanders have been at the forefront of a fierce WTO struggle with the United States over its alleged discriminatory actions against online gambling. Kaye MacDonald, director of gaming for Antigua and Barbuda, will head proceedings to explain how the new US law contravenes 2005 World Trade Organisation rulings against the US and is blatantly protectionist against non-US operators.

Industry observers postulate that the hope is that the high profile conference will persuade President Bush to hold on signing the highly contentious bill into law. The President has until Friday the 13 October to sign the bill off or use his power of veto.

The anti-online gambling measure, sponsored by Republican senators Frist and Kyl, was tacked on to a totally unrelated but vital ports security bill last Friday, with thirty minutes notice which meant that most congressional representatives had little idea of its potential. In a high-pressure late night move to get the port security bill through before Congress recessed for the mid-term elections, politicians were asked to vote on the bill and its attachment in the early hours of Saturday morning.  The bill passed and was immediately approved on a voice vote in the Senate.