!!! Antigua Wins !!!

[VPJunkie]

Yeah, Baby!!

From eGaming Review - http://www.egrmagazine.com

Antigua wins final WTO appeal
Antigua won its battle with the US over cross-border gambling today when the World Trade Organisation dismissed the US' appeal and ruled in favour of the tiny Caribbean island.
The eagerly awaited ruling brings an end to the long running legal battle that first started in June 2003, and centred around the international trade agreements the US entered into as a member of the WTO.

Mark Mendel, lead legal counsel for Antigua’s case, said the final ruling could now mean US media and banking firms that had refused to deal with Antigua in the past would be forced to change their views.

And he also hinted Antigua may resort to legal action against firms that continue to refuse to deal with its operators.

“We can now go to banks and say the US preventing Antigua from offering services is in violation of WTO agreements so you need to do business with us," Mendel said.

“We will also say that Antiguan firms should be allowed to advertise, and maybe we will use the US court system to see that happen.”

However, there are already signs the US government will not be willing to make any significant changes with one official telling the Associated Press the ruling was a victory for the US.

“This is effectively a win for the United States, as it seems to say that if we tighten US Internet gambling restrictions, we'll be fine," the trade official said.

And it is possible the WTO case could eventually lead to the US clamping down further on internet gambling through new legislation.

But Mendel said talk of a US victory was little more than “wishful thinking” and he didn’t believe the US would go down that route.

"Any laws would have to apply to every state in the US or they would be in violation of their trade agreements," Mendel said.

"This would mean making remote gaming illegal in Nevada and repealing existing legislation, and I don't see that happening," he added.

A full copy of the report can be found at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm

I don't understand how they think this could be a win for the US? Or is that just their arrogant hard-headedness talking?

[scoutmaster022]

outstanding news

[TheCPA]

Here's another article.

Antigua wins big in online gambling case
By Steven Downes, Times Online
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/a...1558865,00.html

A landmark ruling from the World Trade Organisation today has opened the way for Americans to gamble online legally, paving the way for potentially massive growth among off-shore "virtual" casinos around the globe.

The WTO today issued its long-awaited ruling in the trade dispute between Antigua, one of its smallest members, and the United States, its largest member, over cross-border online gambling.

It marks the end of a near-eight-year battle by the tiny Caribbean island for the right to host online gambling.

The United States had contended that internet gambling should be prohibited because it violates some state laws.

Last year, a WTO report confirmed a preliminary ruling, saying the US ban represented an unfair trade barrier. Washington appealed the ruling and said it would "vigorously" contest the ruling before the WTO's seven-member appeals body.

But the WTO's ruling today again favoured Antigua.

The WTO ruling is anticipated to pave the way for new media opportunities for gaming operators in Antigua and many other smaller counties. Previously US companies such as Citibank, Chase Manhattan, Bank of America, Clear Channel Communication, Discovery TV, Yahoo and MSN were discouraged from accepting media buys from online gaming products. The WTO determination is expected to end subpoenas or threats of prosecution from the US Justice Department to American companies who choose to do business with Antigua offshore gaming companies.

"This is a country-specific ruling, but it may have far-reaching implications," Mark Mendel, the lead counsel for Antigua, said.

In a classic David and Goliath story, the mighty US was pitted against Antigua, with a population of only 68,000 and which cannot even afford to keep a representative at the WTO's headquarters in Geneva.

But Antigua managed to hold its own against the world's largest economy, which is also the world's largest gambling market.

Antigua filed the case before the WTO in 2003, contending that US restrictions on internet gambling violated trade commitments the United States made as a member of the 148-nation WTO.

According to a 1991 list of industries that must be open to free trade, the recreation and entertainment sectors are fair game, the island state claimed. Moreover, Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua's chief foreign affairs representative, and others have argued that it was no less than the Washington-based World Bank that advised Antigua to move into internet industries to diversify its fragile, tourism-based economy. Antiguan officials estimate that online casinos employ some 3,000.

[Chrysalis]

Hopefully this is good news...but don't hold your breath.

There have been a number of cases that the US has lost at the WTO and then just totally ignored the ruling.

Time will tell.......

[chalkoutline]

Its a very good start though!

[J]

They can only ignore so many rulings. I'm not sure how many times the WTO is going to have to rule in favor of our softwood lumber dispute, but I think were up to 3 now

The only problem is that if they didn't have oil and natural gas from Canada they'd... Wait.. They'd just invade us.

[TheCPA]

The only problem is that if they didn't have oil and natural gas from Canada they'd... Wait.. They'd just invade us.

Yea, a few years ago we'd of just come up there, and had our way with you.
We're broke now, so you're probably safe!

[Doolally]

This may not mean sweeping changes but it's certainly a step in the right direction for once.

[diceman]

“This is effectively a win for the United States, as it seems to say that if we tighten US Internet gambling restrictions, we'll be fine," the trade official said.

And it is possible the WTO case could eventually lead to the US clamping down further on internet gambling through new legislation.

Like I said. I hope not but I am standing in the corner, waiting.

[Ziggy]

Am I losing my mind? I saw this article. Which one is the truth (or who is spinning who)?

April 7, 2005
U.S. Wins Hand in Gambling Feud
By Roy Mark


Antigua came up craps today as the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body sided with the United States in an Internet gambling dispute. The decision, according to the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), allows the U.S. to continue its ban on online sports and casino wagering.

Home to a number of online casinos, the tiny Caribbean island nation claimed the U.S. ban is a violation of the trade agreement between the two countries. Antigua won an initial decision in the dispute, but the USTR appealed.

Thursday, the Appellate Body ruled that the concerns raised by the U.S. federal gambling laws in the dispute "fall within the scope of 'public morals' and/or 'public order'" under an exception to WTO rules for trade-in services.

"This win confirms what we knew from the start -- WTO members are entitled to maintain restrictions on Internet gambling," Acting U.S. Trade Representative Peter Allgeier said in a statement. "U.S. restrictions on Internet gambling can be maintained."

Ziggy
www.gamble4u.com

[Ziggy]

The one thing nice about the United States is the word "STATES." Read on:

3 states may legalize online gambling - 3/16/2005 9:52 AM
By Jon Swartz, USA TODAY

SAN FRANCISCO — Undeterred by murky federal law and emboldened by a trade ruling, at least three states are edging toward legalizing online gambling, and Great Britain is on the verge of permitting its land-based casinos to take bets online from U.S. citizens.
Those are the latest assault on the federal Wire Act of 1961, which bans use of telephones to place sports bets. U.S. lawmakers have struggled for a decade to update the law, hoping to restrain the fast-growing, $10 billion-a-year Internet gambling industry.

Legal experts say that the act is narrow and hard to enforce and that it does not specifically ban casino games. The vague law has prompted online gaming overtures from:

• States Lawmakers say they are confident proposed legislation will not violate federal law, and they are willing to defend themselves in court.

"No one wants tax increases. This is a legitimate revenue maker," says North Dakota state Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo. He introduced legislation that would allow Internet poker sites to operate inside the state. It has passed the House.

Kasper says legalized Internet poker could bring in millions through taxes and fees. North Dakota's constitution would have to be amended, he says. The state attorney general's office, which would regulate sites, last week received a letter from the Justice Department reiterating the federal ban on all Internet gambling.

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has forwarded the letter to the state Senate Judiciary Committee, which is reviewing the bills.

Illinois' legislature is considering a bill to allow the sale of lottery tickets online to state residents 18 and older. The bill, scheduled for a Senate vote next month, could generate millions, says state Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago.

Georgia state Rep. Terry Barnard, R-Glennville, has proposed a similar bill. It passed the House last week.

• British Parliament. Lawmakers this year are expected to allow 137 land-based casinos in the U.K. to take online wagers from U.S. citizens. A move by such a key trading partner could undercut efforts by U.S. officials to snuff Internet gambling, says Joseph Kelly, a Buffalo State College professor who researches online gambling.

All this comes against the backdrop of a closely watched World Trade Organization gaming decision. The U.S. is appealing a WTO ruling that it violates international trade rules by allowing credit cards to be used for domestic gambling but not online bets. Much is at stake: Poker's popularity has made online gambling huge. More than $200 million is bet on online poker daily, up from $16 million two years ago, says researcher PokerPulse.com.

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., advocate anti-online-gaming bills.