Antiguans Encouraged By UK Summit

Published: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

ANTIGUANS REPORTED TO BE ENCOURAGED BY UK SUMMIT

Islander's WTO dispute with the US was discussed

The Antigua and Barbuda delegation to yesterday's 32 nation Remote Gaming Summit in London came away encouraged and with the moral support of several governments including that of Britain.

The British Minister of Sport, Richard Caborn said that his country was sympathetic to a complaint made by Antigua to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) accusing the United States of protectionism of its gambling industry, although he stopped short of saying Britain would support the complaint.

"It will be a landmark decision ... We sympathise in the sense we want the WTO to clear up this area," Caborn said. "Antigua has made it very clear it welcomes the support of the EU in this. We will find out the WTO's position in 2007."

Leading the Antiguan delegation was Dr Errol Cort, Minister for Finance and the Economy, who addressed the assembled delegations on the Antiguan experience with the regulation of on-line gaming, as well as providing an update on Antigua's WTO action against the United States over its prohibition of these services from other countries.

"This was a good forum for us to demonstrate our global leadership in the effective and reasoned regulation of these services" observed Dr Cort. "Following our discussions today we look forward to working with Tessa Jowell and the UK government in continuing to implement regulations for the benefit of the online gambling community both in Antigua and the rest of the world"

It was clear from the meeting that most participants clearly believed that on-line gaming is here to stay, and that regulation was the best way forward, Kaye McDonald, the Antiguan Director of Offshore Gaming, observed.

Delegates parted at the end of the session with a short-term objective of development of a consensus communiqué regarding the way forward for the remote gaming industry, and promises of meeting up again in the coming months to continue the momentum generated by today's meeting.

The Antiguan delegation's legal advisor Mark Mendel said that he though the Summit was a good start on a critical issue. "I am encouraged to see this many countries come together to discuss rationally the issues related to on-line gaming. While at a very early stage, this international effort should be commended."

A draft communique from Tuesday's meeting noted concerns surrounding the industry, including its vulnerability to misuse for criminal activity and its threat to children. The communique proposed the use of age and customer verification tools to protect young people and the vulnerable. It also called for ongoing communication between national jurisdictions through the International Association of Gambling Regulators.