WTO rebuffs U.S. on Internet betting ban

Boston Herald ^ | Mar 31, 007 | AP

[kms61]

GENEVA - The U.S. has failed to change its ban on Internet betting to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling that said the legislation unfairly targets offshore casinos, the global trade body said Friday. The ruling opens the door to possible commercial sanctions against the U.S. In a 215-page decision, a three-member WTO compliance panel sided with the twin Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, which has argued that Internet gambling is a lucrative source of revenue and provides an income for hundreds of islanders. The Geneva-based trade referee has said Washington can maintain restrictions on online gambling, as long as its laws are equally applied to American operators offering remote betting on horse racing.

Shares in London-listed gaming stocks rose after the announcement. Leisure & Gaming PLC gained 10 percent to 19.5 pence (38.2 cents), while PartyGaming PLC rose 4.5 percent to 52.25 pence (10.2 cents), after initially surging by 16 percent. 888 Holdings PLC increased 2 percent to 123.5 pence ($24.22).

[kms61]

The government now has the choice of revisiting the internet gambling law or facing WTO sanctions. It's doubtful that the democratic controlled Congress has any interest in more gambling regulation; Barney Frank has already said he wants to repeal the law. OTOH the administration, for reasons I don't understand, REALLY wants to keep people from gambling on the internet, so I don't think they'll take this lying down--which sets up an internal conflict between the administration-s anti gambling philosophy and its free trade philosophy.

[pissant]

The WTO is a rancid POS and we should withdraw from any connection to it. Regardless of this particular issue.

[antiRepublicrat]

OTOH the administration, for reasons I don't understand, REALLY wants to keep people from gambling on the internet

I'd say making state lotteries, Indian casinos, Las Vegas and horse race bookies happy ranks up there as a good reason.

[dead]

If the US government wants to be involved with the WTO, they'll have to take their shots.

If some shinook wants to gamble on line, the US government should go pound sand about it anyway.

[rhombus]

If some shinook wants to gamble on line, the US government should go pound sand about it anyway.

But...but...what about the Nanny State? ;-)

[Dog Gone]

Once the government figures out how to tax internet gambling, it'll be approved in a jiffy.

[jpl]

Ping.

[kms61]

the rest of the world already knows how to tax it, there's no mystery to it. It's a strange bedfellows alliance of nanny staters and other gambling interests that fear competition that's behind all this, IMV.

[arderkrag]

The government shouldn't be involved anyway. Internet gambling isn't interfering with anyone's rights. it's a fom of commerce, and government should no be involved in commerce. it should be the province of private individuals whether or not they gamble and with whom.

[kms61]

I completely agree.