Antigua has no teeth, economically.
I wish they were not so, but the facts are:
1. Antigua imports heavily FROM the US and depends somewhat on US tourism.
2. Antigua is deep in hock to the Stanford banking interests
3. For the right, and not too high a price, Antigua can essentially be bought, i.e paid enough "aid" and other benefits to make it worthwhile to kick out online gaming.
The Spencer government would be foolish not to act in the national interest take a generously valued trade package in exchange for Bill Scott et al. Keep the non-US online sites, kick out the US sites and we will give you $20 million, $50 million, $100 million ..... whatever.
Hell, weren't poppy-growers paid not to grow poppies ?
Yeah, the issue is coming to a head, I am not sanguine about the outcome for online gaming however.
(Jay, you've been to Antigua. If you think I am wrong, please point out how.)
FWIW, I think the Antigua lawyers did a great job. The form of the benefits to Antigua asre up in the air. It would be ironic if the effort cost the gaming interests their sanctuary.
Milton
|