Antigua Asks WTO to Investigate US Anti-Online Gambling Stance

Filed in archive Gambling General on July 19, 2006

As the US steamrolls ahead with its plans to ban online gambling (except online state lotteries and online horse betting and any other group that has enough fingers in the right pockets), Antigua - who houses many online betting and casino operators have turned again to the WTO to ensure the US is complying with international laws.

A previous WTO ruling found some US laws were complying with trade laws whilst others were not. Antigua believes the current moves are directly contrary to the original ruling and the US has not made any moves to comply with it.

Antigua says the offshore industry is a lucrative source of revenue and provides an income for hundreds of islanders. The prohibitions, it says, are hurting the two-island country's efforts to diversify its economy away from tourism.

In particular, Antigua cites three federal U.S. laws that effectively prohibited their companies from providing gambling services to consumers in the United States: the Wire Act, the Travel Act and the Illegal Gaming Business Act.

The panel will report on U.S. compliance within 90 days. That decision can then be appealed by either side

Article: WTO to Investigate Online Gambling Laws