WTO gives U.S. till April to change gambling law

[Eugene]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=internetNews&storyID=2005-08-19T174912Z_01_EIC964153_RTRIDST_0_NET-TRADE-GAMBLING-DC.XML

WTO gives U.S. till April to change gambling law
Fri Aug 19, 2005 1:49 PM ET

GENEVA (Reuters) - A World Trade Organization arbiter on Friday gave
the United States until April 3 to comply with a ruling that a ban on
Internet gambling services offered by Antigua violates the body's
rules.

U.S. officials had sought a July deadline.

<snip>

The arbiter's decision was the latest stage in a long-running "David
against Goliath" case brought by Antigua & Barbuda, a small Caribbean
nation that has invested heavily in the electronic gambling industry to
boost its economy and job opportunities.

A WTO dispute panel and an appeals body both found largely in favor of
Antigua's complaint over the ban, which has kept U.S. banks and major
Internet search engines from doing business with gambling firms on the
island.

more...

[Up2Late]

1. AFP: US has until April 2006 to respect Internet gambling ruling: WTO

US has until April 2006 to respect Internet gambling ruling: WTO

19/08/2005 17h54

GENEVA (AFP) - The United States has until April 2006 to comply with a ruling about US restrictions on cross-border gaming on the Internet, the World Trade Organisation announced. In an arbitration decision, the global trade referee set the "reasonable period of time" for Washington to adapt its legislation in line with the ruling, which was issued in April this year after the tiny Caribbean state of Antigua and Barbuda brought the US before the 148-nation WTO.

"The United States has already announced its intention to comply with the WTO findings," said Neena Moorjani, a spokeswoman for the US Trade Representative, in a statement. "In order to implement the findings, all we need to do is clarify one narrow issue concerning Internet gambling on horse racing." "This does not involve weakening US restrictions on Internet gambling," she added.

Antigua argued in the complaint it launched in March 2003 that US prohibitions were harming its online gaming business, which is aimed at reducing the island's economic dependence on tourism. Antigua, with a population of about 68,000, is a centre for offshore Internet gaming operations, attracting large numbers of US residents to its virtual casino-style games and betting services.

US officials contended Internet gambling is illegal if it involves activity on US soil, and have vowed to prosecute those involved in the practice. Both sides claimed victory in the dispute.

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/050819175453.ws0ba5e9.html>
(more at link above)

[Gman]

2. There are two problems with this:

1) The US government is run by fundies

2) The US government hates any world organization

So the US will just laugh and not do a damn thing to comply. People like John Bolton will be greatly satisfied that the US would thumb its nose at the WTO.