Sanctions Sought Over Online Gambling Law

WTO May Punish U.S. Over Restrictions On Foreign Internet Gaming Sites

(CBS/AP)  The United States should face commercial sanctions worth more than $3.4 billion each year for its failure to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling that its Internet gambling restrictions are illegal, the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda said Wednesday.

Antigua, which won a WTO ruling last year against the U.S. restrictions, is asking the trade body for authorization to target American trademarks and copyrights if the U.S. refuses to alter its legislation.

It said the sanctions would come into effect “shortly,” unless the United States requests a WTO arbitration panel on the level and scope of the sanctions.

“While we realize this is a significant step for Antigua and Barbuda to take, we feel we have no other choice in the matter,” Antigua's Finance Minister L. Errol Cort said in a statement.

“Until such time as the United States is willing to work with us on achieving a reasonable solution to this trade dispute, we will continue to use every legitimate remedy available to protect the interests of our citizens,” he said.

U.S. trade officials were not immediately available for comment.

The move by Antigua comes a day after the European Union told the United States it, too, wanted compensation for the U.S. ban on foreign online gambling sites, saying it does not comply with global trade rules.

British online gaming operators such as Sportingbet PLC and Leisure & Gaming PLC were forced to quit the profitable U.S. market last year when Washington stopped U.S. banks and credit card
companies from processing payments to online gambling businesses outside the country.

The decision closed off the most lucrative region in a market worth $15.5 billion last year. About half of the world's online gamblers are based in the United States.

But an EU official said the concessions Europe was looking for would likely be "commitments" to open up other trade sectors, meaning gambling sites would not win their way back into U.S. pockets.

"We need new concessions that would be equal with the benefits lost," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to be quoted by name in media reports.

Antigua argues that before the U.S. ban was introduced, online gambling provided income for hundreds of its citizens and helped end its reliance on tourism, which was hurt by a series of hurricanes in the late 1990s.

The World Trade Organization ruled in December that the law unfairly targeted offshore casinos, telling the U.S. it could keep restrictions against sport betting in place if they were also applied to American businesses.

After losing the case, the U.S. announced that it would take an unprecedented legal step to change the international commitments it made as part of a 1994 treaty regulating the trade in services among the 150 members of the WTO. As a result, the U.S. declined to challenge the WTO ruling, claiming its legal maneuver effectively ends the case.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who chairs the congressional committee that oversees financial services, introduced a bill in April that would reverse the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act — but his plan faces long odds in Congress, and likely opposition from the Bush administration.

[mnelsonix]

Freedom and Liberty, may you rest in peace.

Spin Bias, Bias and Spin. This article does not tell the story. Bush absconded away with liberty when the Online Gambling Prohibition was tied to, of all things, the Ports security Act.%u201D The USA is the only %u201Cfree country%u201D whose citizens are NOT free to play poker tournaments online!

I will explain why poker tournaments are not gambling: It is a competition. Players post an entry fee. Then they battle it out amongst themselves. The %u201CHouse%u201D charges a fee to use their web site but that is it. Gambling is when you play a game of chance against the %u201CHouse%u201D and the odds are clearly against you. In poker, everyone in the tournament has the same odds, same risk, and the entry fee is equitable. It is clearly a competition, like golf, chess, bowling, or tidily winks.

The reason why online poker was made illegal is that our corrupt government has not figured out a way to tax it. PERIOD.

If you live in the USA, do not be fooled%u2026you are far from free! Freedom and Liberty, may you rest in peace.

[rushlimpdrug]

So what are the odds we lose and have to pay?

[lorinkundert]

Since those UN organizations can't comprehend the term sovereignty, I will explain, The US is governed by our Constitution and you are irrelevant.

[michellem99-2009]

I don't gamble so therefore I hope it stays illegal. I don't so much as play the lotty.

[sty1]

We will have to overhall the justice system which is now woman run. These self richous stupid women lawyers are the ruin of all mens freedoms. Revolution is the only way. This is why we are alowed guns. To stop oppression a teranny from these these stupid opressive laws. So when you are herrassed..bring out the firepower. Put womem back in their place. Lets go back to the 50 60 and 70s It was much better then. When Men were in control.

[michellem99-2009]

I will tell you who messed this nation up and it is not us ladies...George Bush..so young man before you run yer mouth of yer male control..years ago I worked and my fingers bled from the jobs I was told to do. So don't sit there preach yer..dumb male ways. You men are the reason I was deny an education.FYI a male friend helpped me get computer. I would love to see men put yer place..Yer need to grow up and I will tell a man my mind and that is my right. Go back to the 50s to 70s no thanks.I am 52. So I see MEN as lil boys who want to make war. So you whine if things don't go yer way. Most walk out on their families so women have pick up the pieces.Yes I am white..so lil boy I truly pity you..YER POST IS A SLAP IN THE FACE. Yer ma failed to raised you with manners. So yes. I am p---ed.

[bobebenson]

Aren't women cute when they're mad? :-)