Antigua Accuses U.S. over WTO Gambling Case

Antigua and Barbuda has accused the U.S. of failing to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling that it discriminates unfairly against online gambling companies based in the tiny Caribbean island nation.

Last year the WTO dispute settlement body (DSB) ruled that while the US was entitled to restrict internet gambling, the rules were not being applied fairly. The case arose from complaints from internet gaming companies, several of which are based in Antigua, that US laws unfairly discriminated against foreign companies by prohibiting cross-border betting.

The deadline for the US to comply with the ruling is April 3, but Antigua´s government has accused Rob Portman, US trade representative (USTR), of making no effort to bring American laws into line.

If the WTO finds that the US has not complied with the ruling, it can permit Antigua to impose reciprocal trade sanctions, but these would be almost entirely symbolic for such a small trading partner.

The case has aroused anger among some US legislators, who say that gambling on the internet is a particularly pernicious form of betting, since it brings a potentially addictive and damaging pastime into American homes. The US invoked a rarely used part of the WTO agreement on services to argue that the restrictions protected “public morals”.

Two bills introduced into Congress by Republican congressmen Jim Leach from Iowa and Robert Goodlatte from Virginia would further restrict internet gambling without complying with the WTO´s ruling, Antigua said.