More Online Gaming Problems as the US Again Takes on the ANTIGUA INTERNET Gaming Industry

There is very much speculation with regard to the week-long closure in Antigua & Barbuda of Western Union offices as being connected to  yet another move on the part of  the powerful United States to control gaming companies that operate from Antigua & Barbuda.

Ron Maginley, a consultant and former Director of Offshore Gaming, is reported as saying that the Western Union situation should be viewed within the perspective of the Antigua & Barbuda - US WTO issue.
He reports that he does not know of such a closure occurring in any other jurisdiction and says that he does not know if this closure is because of online gaming, but that he certainly questions why Western Union should have made a unilateral decision to shut down offices only within Antigua & Barbuda in view of the country’s continued actions at the WTO.
According to him, several international gaming companies have utilized Western Union as one of several payment options.
The government should be very disturbed that Western Union offices had been forced to close, Maginley said. This denies Antigua & Barbuda gaming companies yet another means for facilitating payments from their companies, Western Union was actually being used by local companies for that purpose.
According to Maginley, the government should raise this as the latest example of pressure being placed by the US on companies that are providing services to companies that are carrying out legitimate business in Antigua & Barbuda. He believes that they should insist that Western Union be allowed to provide services to gaming companies.
Western Union International stopped all services by its Antigua franchise, according to The SUN. They also halted their operations in their four branches, awaiting adequate conclusion of a review.

Lori Varsames, Western Union’s Director of Communications said that Western Union is temporarily suspending its services in Antigua.
Varsamas is reported as stating that Western Union monitors its business activities and regularly conducts routine reviews of its agencies during which they identify certain circumstances that may be in need if additional attention.
No deadline for the review was mentioned only that it was continuing with company representatives conducting appropriate meetings. Varsama explains that this is part of their routine review of their entire agent base and that they are working to complete the review in reasonable time. She says that the company is working to restore services

The SUN reports a spontaneous closed-door audit that includes the country’s four outlets which are situated at Spencer’s Supermarket, Jolly Harbour, M&M on Old Parham Road, Liberta, and British American on Redcliffe Street. All of these operations have been suspended.
According to Maginley the WTO matter, prohibits the US from carrying out measures that would deny access by Antigua & Barbuda companies, which would like to provide services to the United States.

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