Why hurricane-ravaged Barbuda desperately wants to resolve a dispute over U.S. online gambling
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua and Barbuda - As the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda struggles to rebuild following Hurricane Irma, the tiny islands are demanding that the United States settle a long-simmering trade dispute that could provide them with millions of dollars for recovery.
The conflict revolves around the U.S. government's campaign to prevent Americans from gambling at online sites based in Antigua and Barbuda.
Antigua and Barbuda claims that the resulting trade dispute has cost the twin-island nation some $200 million - about four-fifths the estimated cost of reconstruction after Irma.
The conflict dates to the 1990s, when online gambling exploded in popularity.
According to the industry website GamingZion, Antigua was the first country to license
