No positive sign is on sight for Antigua and Barbuda in receiving any pay-out from the USA in a long-running gambling dispute.  It is planning to ask the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to mediate. But the country is fast “losing all hope.” Antiguan ambassador Ronald Sanders said.

The United States accused Antigua and Barbuda of playing politics.

Antigua and Barbuda constructed an Internet gambling industry in the light of declining revenue in tourism.  But it was not allowed in the USA.

The archipelago took its case to the WTO in 2003 and eventually won the right to compensation of $21 million annually, after the WTO judges upheld its complaint that U.S. laws were discriminatory.

Washington has not paid out, and Sanders said his country had lost $315 million so far, equivalent to more than a quarter of its annual GDP and less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. economy.

Although the WTO awarded Antigua the right to use trade sanctions to recoup its losses, it opted for a settlement.

“We continued to hope that a sense of justice and fairness would prevail. But, we are now losing all hope,” Sanders told the WTO’s dispute settlement body, according to a copy of his remarks provided to Reuters.

“After a long period of exhausting attempts to engage the United States, Antigua and Barbuda is now contemplating, once again, approaching the (WTO) Director-General… to join in seeking a mediated solution that would bring much needed relief after these arduous 15 years of damage to our economy.”

Trade experts say the case highlights a weakness in the WTO system, because small nations have little leverage to enforce rulings against the world’s big powers.

Antigua does not have a permanent representation in Geneva but it has repeatedly sent envoys to the WTO to plead for a U.S. payout, most recently last September when the island of Barbuda was severely damaged by Hurricane Irma.

“All of Antigua and Barbuda’s attempts, in a spirit of good faith, have failed,” Sanders said.

U.S. Ambassador Dennis Shea told the WTO meeting that Antigua had made “extreme demands”, and monetary payments were not provided for under the rules. The United States had made repeated offers to settle the row, to no avail, he said.

The current U.S. administration had had no reply to a formal offer of further discussions, Shea said, according to a prepared copy of his remarks.

“For these reasons, Antigua’s decision to place this matter on the agenda today appears to be a political statement, rather than an effort to engage on a resolution of this dispute.”

Sanders said none of the U.S. offers amounted to even 1 percent of the damage caused.

“The WTO dispute settlement was conceived as a system where all members, irrespective of their size, would have their rights protected,” he said.

Source: Reuters

Caesars Interactive Entertainment has overtaken PokerStars and Borgata to become the highest grossing operator in the New Jersey poker market. This is no mean fat, as PokerStars had been the most dominant online gambling entity in the state. That has changed now.

PokerStars has, in fact, had a terrific streak of being first, which lasted for over two years – they took first position in April 2016 and have not looked back, until now. In May 2018, Caesars dethroned them and now rules the NJ Empire. The main reason behind this change is the state’s joining of the Multi State Internet Gaming Association (MSIGA), which is now, therefore, sharing poker liquidity with other states – something Nevada and Delaware have been a part of for the past three years. It is because of this, and the fact that Caesars is the only operator offering online poker in those two states, that this operator benefits wildly from the situation which is reflected in their increased revenue, which has soared by more than 40 per cent!

“Caesars dethroned them and now rules the NJ empire”

In total, New Jersey online operators amassed $24.3 million in May revenue, which is 1.3 million less than in the month of March, when the revenue record was set. This is the fifteenth month in a row that combined online casino and poker revenues to exceed $20 million in this state.

Source: egr.global

Pennsylvania has launched a new iLottery online gaming platform by partnering with Global Payments Gaming Solutions. Players can deposit funds and withdraw prize amount using the Global Payments ACH payment services.

The iLottery platform offers a host of instant-win games that are accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop devices.

Drew Svitko, executive director of the Pennsylvania Lottery, said: “Online and mobile gaming is a natural evolution for the Pennsylvania Lottery and Global Payments is helping us make the consumer experience frictionless as we modernise our business and generate new funds to benefit older Pennsylvanians.”

Christopher Justice, president of Global Payments, added: “We have almost two decades of experience working with gaming organisations to provide a simple, secure and convenient player experience.”

“We’re thrilled that Pennsylvania Lottery selected Global Payments to help them increase engagement and accessibility as they offer new innovative experiences.”

Source: iGamingBusiness