Its been a busy and political week for the online and traditional gambling industry this week.
The UK – long been pushing for a new gambling bill – has bowed to the pressure of the naysayers and pushed a largely decimated bill through whilst the promise of new 'super casinos' inline with Vegas was decreased from 40 to 8 and now just to 1.
Tessa Jowell, the Minister of Culture who was behind the bill claimed the policy's reduction will cost the UK an estimated 40,000 new jobs and �600m GBPIn the meantime, the long-running WTO case between Antigua and the USA and the ability to offer US citizens online gambling has finally been given a ruling – and both sides are claiming victory.
The US claims its victory inasmuch as the report states that as long as a WTO member clarify restrictions in a specific manner – in this case that of 'protecting public morals' – they are able to maintain those restrictions.
In favour of Antigua, the WTO ruled that the US's Interstate Horse Racing Act – that allows Americans to bet on horses only with US companies – is discriminatory further negotiations will be required between the 2 countries to amend the Act to allow for International betting – a positive sign for Antigua where many online sports-betting companies reside – read more here