Online Gambling in Carribean Comes Under Scrutiny of WTO

Just recently, international laws and foreign pressure have been placed upon the online casion market in the Carribean Islands. Antigua and Barbuda in particular, will soon find out if they can continue doing business online or if they have to shut down their online casinos in the country.

There are a growing number of people and groups worldwide that supports the shutdown of these kinds of businesses in this country. Aside from Gibraltar and a few other small countries all over the world, the Carribean has been a safe and peaceful haven for online casino operators, but it may change really soon and could spell doom for the entire online gambling industry in the Carribean.

The World Trade Organization has just recently became ensnared in a legal battle with the online casino industry in attempt to enforce heavier and stricter regulations and even suspend all gambling activity throughout the Carribean.

Antigua and Barbuda just recently presented its side on the matter while outlining Antigua and Barbuda's side in response to United States' and WTO pressure to them.

The court ruled last year that the U.S. financial regulations, which prevent any transactions between any U.S. finacial institutions and online casino operators that are based in Antigua were in violation of the American obligations.

The Minister of Finance and the Economy forAntigua and Barbuda, Errol Cort, said to the WTO that they believe that any solution to these arguments can be resolved by developing some scheme that will allow their gambling operators to consumers in the U.S. They are hopeful that they will be allowed to and the United States will listen to their appeal.

So far, Mexico and other Caricom member countries have voiced their support to Antigua and Barbuda.